Just because you’ve had bariatric surgery doesn’t mean you can’t go out with your friends and family to eat at nice restaurants.
It also doesn’t imply that you should abandon your diet. However, compared to someone who hasn’t had surgery, you must be more informed of your options.
As you’ll discover in this article, most restaurants have numerous “bariatric friendly” alternatives, but they also have EXTREMELY fatty and high-calorie ones. Success as a bariatric patient becomes more of an art than a science in this case. In any case, this advice will direct you to some tried-and-true bariatric-friendly alternatives at several well-known eateries.
Food is an important component of our life. It’s no surprise that following a gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, social eating can be challenging for bariatric patients. When patients are confronted with the idea of eating out following bariatric surgery, we frequently find that they get apprehensive. The fact is that afterbariatric surgery, you may still enjoy social eating and live your life to the fullest. In reality, it’s a lot simpler than you would imagine.
It is critical to consume a well-balanced diet that includes proteins, dietary fibre, and vital fatty acids in each meal. After bariatric surgery, lean protein sources, including tofu milk and milk products, chickpeas,beans, lentils , eggs, shellfish, grilled chicken, and baked salmon, are ideal after bariatric surgery. Steamed veggies or fresh salads make excellent side dishes. Request that the salad and dressing be served separately so that you may regulate how much dressing is used. Salsa, vinegar, or mustard are suggested dressings. Tomato sauces are preferable to cream sauces.
After bariatric surgery, here’s a brief guide to eating out.
• Look for a restaurant that offers a variety of choices: Some meals and drinks should be avoided during the post-op period after bariatric surgery because they are likely to produce unpleasant effects. Carbonated drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages, coffee, gum, and spicy meals are frequently intolerable.
Choose a restaurant where you know there will be a range of healthy and bariatric-friendly alternatives, such as grilled meats, whole grains, and plant-based meals.
• Make a strategy: Check out the menu ahead of time. You’ll be more likely to pick a meal that matches your objectives when you place your order if you study your alternatives ahead of time. When deciding what to eat, begin with protein, which is an essential component of every meal.
Avoid fried, sautéed, battered, or braised foods in favour of those that are roasted, steamed, grilled, or baked. If you’ve just had surgery, search for items you’ve previously reintroduced to your diet. You’ll be able to avoid any foods that you don’t tolerate well.
• Include some vegetables: Add some veggies to your plate once you’ve chosen your protein. Instead of French fries, chips, or spaghetti, try a salad, mixed vegetables, or a veggie-heavy stew or soup.
• Divide your food into two halves: Restaurant servings are often three times larger than the suggested serving size! To keep your consumption in check, see whether the restaurant has half-sized portions and order them instead. Alternatively, pack half of your meal before you begin eating and save the remainder for another day.
• Please do your homework: The menus of most restaurants are available online, either on their website, on social media, or on food review services like Zomato. Before you go, have a look at their menu. Please take a look at the menu to see what they have to offer. Are there any healthier alternatives? Look for high-nutrient, bariatric-friendly meals and, if possible, create a list of what you’d want to order when you arrive there.
· Be aware of your food choices: Have you noticed how average-sized restaurant servings may last three to four meals following bariatric surgery? That’s why, if you’re going out to eat, it’s crucial to know what you’re getting yourself into. To begin, you are not required to select a meal from the mains part of the menu. You can choose a healthier option. It’s less expensive and equally as tasty as the rest of the menu. Don’t be hesitant to share your meal with a companion. This prevents you from overeating and experiencing the unpleasant symptoms of dumping syndrome. Why not eat light healthy snacks instead of dinner if you have the option? Everyone will be too preoccupied with sharing the meal to notice if your serving size is too tiny.
· Select the appropriate foods: When you dine with others, it’s easy to get carried away. When you go out to eat, make the correct choices. To satisfy your daily dietary requirements, focus on lean proteins like fish, chicken, or tofu. For patients who have had a gastric sleeve, this is critical. Empty calories, such as alcoholic and soft beverages, should be avoided. They are rich in sugar, fat, and calories and provide little to no nutrition. Order steaming veggies or salads instead of harmful side dishes like fried chips. These are often less expensive and healthier.
When ordering a salad, make sure to ask for your dressing to be delivered separately on the side. Because sauces are rich in calories, you may limit how much you eat.
Stick to the things you’re permitted to eat if you’re in the pureed, soft food or liquid phase of your diet. Keep in mind that your stomach is mending. If something that you tried doesn’t suit your body at home, such as steak, it’s preferable to avoid it when eating out.
• Don’t be afraid to request a takeout plate: Takeaway plates will become your best friend. It shouldn’t be a game of “how much can I eat in a serving?” when dining out. When you start to feel full, put down your utensils and ask for a takeout plate from the waitress. If you’re worried about doing this, pack a takeout plate in your luggage and place the meal on it before going out to dine. You may eat it later, take it to work for lunch or put it away for a rainy day. You’ll save money and be able to eat dinner several times over. When it comes to eating, you have the upper hand; make use of it!
• There’s no difference between dining at a party and eating at a restaurant: Before you place food on your plate, immediately examine the food table when you arrive at the party. Fill up on protein and veggies, and stay away from the buffet. You will eat more as a result of this. Keep track of your satiety signals and socialize with others.
• Eat slowly: Eating isn’t and shouldn’t be a competition. Take your time with your meal. Before you swallow your meal, chew it well and try not to worry about what others might think about your eating habits. If someone at your table attempts to get you to eat more, politely decline and reply, “No, thank you, I’m full.”
• What Not to Do: Avoid high-calorie processed and breaded meat items, as well as creamy sauces. Choose veggies over starchy meals whenever feasible; avoid chips, baked potatoes, rice, grain products, corn, and pasta, for example. Fizzy drinks, juices, sports drinks, iced tea, and alcohol are all rich in calories. Snacks like potato chips, maize crisps, and other similar snacks might cause you to overeat, so stick to lean protein sources instead.
Remember, you’re visiting your friends and family, not competing with them to see who can eat the most food in the shortest amount of time. Enjoy your time following bariatric surgery post-care.