Tips for Eating Out After Weight Loss Surgery

We understand navigating social eating after bariatric surgery can be incredibly tricky. That’s why we’re sharing some of our top tips for eating out after weight loss surgery in our latest blog.

Whether you’re catching up with a friend over lunch, enjoying a lovely dinner out with your family or attending a work event, food forms an integral part of our social lives.

We often get lots of questions about “What are some tips I can follow when going out for dinner?” or “What can I eat when going to restaurants?” or “How do I participate at events without feeling left out?”

At the end of the day, we want you to live your life to the fullest and enjoy social eating without feeling like you’re missing out.

After Bariatric Surgery Diet: 6 Tips for Eating Out

Here are some quick tips to eating out after bariatric surgery.

1. Do your research beforehand

Choose a restaurant that provides options that align with your health goals and help you stay on track
Assess at the menu before going to the restaurant and choose 2-3 items you can pick from. This way, you go in more prepared already knowing what you will order. Moreover, you are less likely to order in a hurry or order foods that don’t align with your weight loss and nutrition goals
Make use of websites to browse through the menu or look at reviews

2. Take your special menu request card with you

Our clinic offers a restaurant card at approximately 3 months post-op. If you haven’t received yours, please contact us here for one
This card notifies the restaurant of your surgery and requests that you choose from the children’s menu or to purchase a half-sized adult meal. Establishments are not obliged to honour this but very few decline.
A number of restaurants are happy to accommodate and even offer discounts for bariatric patients

3. Choose appropriate portion sizes

Select from the Entree / Starters list
Order a meal or a few sides that can be shared between your family and friends
Ask for a takeaway container and take your leftovers home – some states in Australia do not permit this.

4. Practice mindfulness

Take small bites, chew thoroughly and savour every mouthful
Put the knife, fork or spoon down in between mouthfuls
Eat until you are satisfied, not full. More often than not, one extra mouthful can be one mouthful too much between feeling satisfied and overfull

5. Separate food and fluids

Avoid drinking 10-15 minutes before you eat, then wait 30 minutes after you finish eating before you start drinking again

6. Limit carbonated drinks and empty calories

This includes alcoholic drinks, mocktails, soft drinks and fruit juices as well as high calorie sauces and dressings