I saw this on another forum. It's a list of restaurants and how many calories, points, carbs etc are in the meals on their menus. A lot of them are in the US (it's an American site) but it may be helpful to those who eat out.

The woman who mentioned it said it helped her to know what was a reasonably healthy meal to have before she went out.

I don't really eat out that much, and didn't recognise a lot of the places, but maybe if some of you are on holidays or do recognise some of them, it may be of some use.

Dotti's Weight Loss Zone - Restaurants A-Z, Weight Watcher and Nutritional Info

Mary

I saw this on another forum. It's a list of restaurants and how many calories, points, carbs etc are in the meals on their menus. A lot of them are in the US (it's an American site) but it may be helpful to those who eat out.

The woman who mentioned it said it helped her to know what was a reasonably healthy meal to have before she went out.

I don't really eat out that much, and didn't recognise a lot of the places, but maybe if some of you are on holidays or do recognise some of them, it may be of some use.

Dotti's Weight Loss Zone - Restaurants A-Z, Weight Watcher and Nutritional Info

Mary

Mary,

thank you for posting this I am in the US pretty much 300 days a year for my job so since we eat out a few times a week it is nice to know what is in things.

I have been eating out since I was first banded much more than most people because I spend a lot of my life living in hotels and eating out. I have always used common sense, ordering things like french onion Soup with no cheese and no bread when I was on clear fluids because it is beef broth giving me some Protein. Other than that I learned that chicken, beef and lots of fish are my friends. I haven't been a calorie counter since my first 6 months post banding by then I had worked out protein counts in my head so I knew I was getting enough protein.

Even now I think about what I am ordering and try to structure it based on what else I have eaten throughout the day, the time I am eating etc.

But restaurants have a ton of hidden calories sauces done in butter, a quick flash fry in fat, and the dressings etc all laden with fat. As a general rule I never eat the bread or salad or soup that comes with my entree I can't eat that much food so I skip it. And I learned a long time ago I don't eat leftovers often so leaving them behind is much more practical for me... unless the friends or the dog want them. And the other thing I have learned is I am a high maintenance ordering machine... if I am paying for it I want it the way I want it, sauce on the side, substitutions etc...I am polite and never protest paying more when I ask for something different but if I am paying I am not afraid to ask for what I want and how I like it.

Heather

I don't eat out very often, as I said, but I find that I am ordering so much differently than I used to, for sure. And you are right, there is no harm in asking for something the way you want it. As long as you aren't asking for some "way out there" ingredient, it isn't hard for them to alter a food. I used to always want a hamberger because it wasn't often that I got them at home, now I'll mostly order soup and a salad.

The only thing I haven't been able to catch until later when I get that horrible tired feeling behind my eyes, is when there is MSG in something. I ate something at a restaurant a while ago, and I won't go back there as it must have had MSG and I was so tired for the rest of the day! It is so unnecessary!

Hope it helps someone. You are right, if you are sensible, you know whether something is good for your diet or not, but sometimes it is hard to know which item would be better.

Mary

I don't eat out very often, as I said, but I find that I am ordering so much differently than I used to, for sure. And you are right, there is no harm in asking for something the way you want it. As long as you aren't asking for some "way out there" ingredient, it isn't hard for them to alter a food. I used to always want a hamberger because it wasn't often that I got them at home, now I'll mostly order soup and a salad.

The only thing I haven't been able to catch until later when I get that horrible tired feeling behind my eyes, is when there is MSG in something. I ate something at a restaurant a while ago, and I won't go back there as it must have had MSG and I was so tired for the rest of the day! It is so unnecessary!

Hope it helps someone. You are right, if you are sensible, you know whether something is good for your diet or not, but sometimes it is hard to know which item would be better.

Mary

It is funny since banding MSG makes me vomit instantly two bits of anything with MSG and I am hiking for the restroom... It never bothered me prebanding really now it is almost instant I know when something has MSG in it.

Heather