For most people who are on a diet or have undergone Mexico bariatric surgery, it’s easy to eat at home where you have control over your meals. As you go through the diet progression stages after bariatric surgery, eating at a restaurant should not be ruled out. After transitioning from liquid food to solid food, the following bariatric-friendly restaurant tips can help you enjoy eating out by yourself or with family and friends.
Tips For Eating Out After Bariatric Surgery
Tips for visiting a fast food restaurant
- Avoid combo meals
- Choose grilled meals instead of fried ones
- Choose chicken instead of beef
- Choose healthier side options like mashed potatoes, baked beans, or apple slices
- Use only low-fat dressing for your salads
- Don’t eat the bread that comes with the sandwich
Tips for visiting Italian restaurants
- Don’t consume the free breadsticks or any of the free appetizers offered
- Order from the children’s menu to get smaller portions
- Don’t choose foods with descriptions such as butter sauce, fried or alfredo sauce, these are dense in calories
- Request for your sauces and salad dressings to be put on the side. Sauces like the marinara sauce have a low-calorie count and are safe to consume.
Tips for visiting Mexican restaurants
- Stay away from the ground beef and pork, choose chicken or shrimp instead.
- Stay away from sour cream, cheese, chips, queso, and guacamole as they have a high-calorie count.
- When you order fajitas, don’t eat the tortillas. If you can’t resist the tortillas ask for the corn ones instead of the flour ones.
Tips for visiting Asian restaurants
- Choose steamed food options instead of the fried or battered ones
- Eat vegetables instead of noodles or rice
- Choose low-calorie soups
- Choose chicken over beef
- Request for smaller portions
General Tips for Post-Bariatric Surgery Diet
Below are a few reminders to keep in mind every time you go out to eat and as you follow your post-bariatric surgery diet.
- Stay hydrated by taking at least 64 ounces of water. Sip water throughout the day, and don’t drink between 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after meals.
- Eat slowly to avoid getting the dumping syndrome
- Don’t consume anything high in fats or sugar
- Avoid alcohol as much as possible.
- Know your calorie budget before going to the restaurant
- Know what you’re going to order in advance
- Limit the number of times you go out per week
- Try sharing your meal with a friend
- Request for a to-go box when you get to the restaurant
- Take unsweetened tea
- Stay away from the dessert
