Education

Dining Out

Is It Possible to Enjoy It After Weight Loss Surgery?

By Barbara Thompson

Eating in restaurants can be a challenge following weight loss surgery and often patients try to avoid it because they are not sure how they will eat. Here are some tips that will get you back to enjoying the experience, yet in a healthy way. You will walk out not feeling guilty because you overate, but proud of yourself for having eaten healthy and satisfying food:

• Appetizers can provide you with a wonderful meal. Shrimp cocktail or a crab cake are ideal
• Try a hearty soup or chili for your meal.
• Don't try anything that you haven't tried at home. A new food might not agree with you and a public place is not the best place to test foods.
• Don't worry about waiters who keep asking if your food is OK. Just tell them that you are full but that the meal was wonderful. Take your leftovers home for meals for a few days
• Skip the children's menu. Although the portions are small, they are very unhealthy food choices. Macaroni and cheese, pizza, fried chicken nuggets and hotdogs are high in carbs, high in calories and low in protein. That is an unhealthy combination.
• Senior meals are smaller portions and are generally healthier. You can order them regardless of your age.
• Don't get carried away talking and forget to chew. You can end up in the bathroom and spoil your experience.

Incorporating our new selves into our previous lives is tricky, but in time it will all fall into place.

Barbara Thompson is the author of Weight Loss Surgery; Finding the Thin Person Hiding inside You and co-author of Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies. Visit her website at www.WLScenter.com.