I wanted to start this post as a resource for people on the board to share ideas about how they survive when they eat at restaurants. . . anything from McDonalds to Chez Mon Dieu.

One of my friends (not Lee for those wondering) just started on the Atkins diet shortly ago and was terrified of going into a restuarant where he could not pour his own drink, for fear of getting regular soda as opposed to diet. I restrict myself to only drinking diet when I eat out as kind of a treat so I gave him this advice.

1st - Be nice to the waitress or waiter, if they think you're a good person they will ensure things for you. Because after all good persons tip.

2nd - Tell them when you order the beverage (in a nice way) to ensure its diet. My typical line (which nearly ensures success) is to say. . ."I'm sorry to ask you this, but can you please be sure its diet, If I have a glass of regular soda, I won't be walking out of your restaurant." They instantly see what kind of situation that would create and will ensure it.

3rd - Tip well and I mean well. I believe this should be policy anyhow, but a nice fat tip whenever you go to a restaurant ensures when you come back they will remember you. I love the local Shari's in town and all of the waiters/waitresses know me by name, smile when I come in, and have a confirmed diet beverage waiting for me. And if you get that kind of service it makes me want to tip even more. Which gets a better reaction from them etc.


Sorry if that went on for a while....

GRINS

Mike

I think this is a wonderful suggestion. I also "give" myself a diet pop at restaurants as a treat and I have received regular pop a few times in error. Unfortunately, it is too late when you realize that it isn't a diet pop.

I find that this usually happens to me at the restaurants that provide you with free refills. I am going to try this when I go out. I have a good relationship with the waitresses at the restaurants I go to and I think once they realize the importance of diet over regular they will be more carefull in the future.

Thanks for the tip

Here is another restaurant tip that helped me to enjoy some of the food that I used to enjoy before going LC:

If you like Dim Sum like I do, you can order any steamed Dim Sum you like and just remove the outer cover (starch). I guarantee you, your mouth will not even know the difference. Since the outer cover is tasteless any way, all the taste remains in the inside filling containing meat and sea food. Ymmm!

Today is my 4th day on Induction and I was getting tired of eating all new kinds of meat that I never used to eat before. The above idea saved me today. 4 days- 5.5 lbs and going strong.

Good ideas Mike

Too bad everybody isn't like me - I can taste aspartame and any other artificial sweetener in ANY product at 50 paces. And I can tell the difference between it and sugar.

My dh made me a cup of herbal tea recently from a new stash he bought and I immediately accused him of putting artificial sweetener in mine (I don't take sweet in tea).

He denied it so I read the box. The tea contained Stevia plant derivatives

I was probably a bloodhound in another life