For new weight loss surgery patients, ordering at a restaurant can be daunting. But it doesn't have to be. Here are a few tips for ordering.

I usually survey the menu for options that fit my requirements. I ask the server how the dish is usually prepared. If I need to make adjustments, I request changes be made.

When asking for adjustments, I find it best not to pose my request in the form of a question. It's not "if" they can serve my needs. but "how" they can serve my needs. I specifically "request" how I need them prepared. For example, if I want my veggies steamed with no butter, I will say, "I would like the broccoli with no butter, please." or "Please steam the vegetables without butter, but you may put it on the side." Instead of, "Can you steam those without butter? In other words, there is no options. I may want to control the amount of butter I add to my veggies. Sometimes, when they eliminate the butter, it makes the vegetables dry. I also ask for them to be steamed with water.

I'm not suggesting you be rude, I'm suggesting you standing up for what you need, politely. I make sure I'm courteous while making my needs known in a decisive manner. They may not have everything I want, but most places will try to meet the request if they have it available.  Kindness goes a long way.  So be kind, but firm. 

I also request that my vegetables be cooked more thoroughly. If they are not, I send them back to the kitchen for further cooking time. If it doesn’t go well, I have several options. I do not order it again, I can ask to speak with a manager, or I can find another restaurant that takes my request more seriously.  

Some restaurants have pre-made meals so it is impossible to remove a certain food item from certain food selections, such as an ingredient or perhaps a sauce. Usually, the server will let you know if your request can't be honored. That's understandable. If your request is not doable, there is usually another option, but sometimes it calls for a little creativity. Search the menu for other ingredients that you can eat. You may have to ask for a special order to be prepared. In this case, I sometimes have to ask to speak to a manager and explain my reason for asking. 

For example: one of my favorite "special occasion" restaurants doesn't have green beans on the menu, but I know that one of their appetizer selections is served with green beans, so I make a request for the green beans. I inform the server that I have talked with the manager previously, and my request is usually honored. Again, I'm not rude or but assertive in my request. 

Once, at a local restaurant, I requested fruit with my meal for dinner. I knew the fruit was on the lunch menu, but it wasn't listed on the dinner menu. The server wasn't sure my request could be filled. I kindly asked to speak with the manager on duty. After explaining my circumstances, he was more than happy to serve me the fruit. The server was happy with the extra "tip" we added for his accommodating spirit.  

Having it "your way" isn't just for Burger King. So, when ordering, be assertive, kind, and creative. Yes you can, you have many more miles to go!