• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Eating Out

dazzeur

Well-Known Member
Messages
59
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
When eating out in restaurants, do you tell the waiter that you're diabetic? Anything to consider? Or just order what you think will be ok to eat?
 
Order what I want to eat and maybe ask for some substitutions.. Wouldn't expect a restaurant to know what is suitable for a Type 2 so I just tell them what I want. Try to swap chips for green veg or mushrooms and if at a Chinese have crispy duck (don't eat the pancakes obvs) or for Indian tandoori mixed grill with some kind of non root veg... mushroom or spinach bahji maybe. You can usually find something suitable on the menu or if it comes with loads of carbs just leave them.. or give them to the other half..
 
Most restaurants aren't equipped to handle a diabetics dietary requirements.
It's something you need to teach yourself really...
 
Steak is a big go to for me. Personally I explain I'm a diabetic and can't eat carbs so would you mind changing the chips for vegetables ... or something like that. Then the restaurant doesn't just think you are a fussy eater LOL

Never had anyone charge me extra for making changes or refuse (well ok, one restaurant said No changes at busy times but I agreed the point). And when I've not asked and they've bought the chips it has been a low control day (like Friday) and I've eaten them!

Like @bulkbiker suggestion of Crispy Duck, I do miss a nice Chinese meal
 
How I wish most restaurants have a small diabetic menu since diabetes is becoming an epidemic. This would make life so much easier for diabetics when eating out.


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum
 
dazzeur said:
When eating out in restaurants, do you tell the waiter that you're diabetic? Anything to consider? Or just order what you think will be ok to eat?
Click to expand...

Never told anyone in a restaurant that I have diabetes, but as others have pointed out most places will substitute food items, the carvery restaurant chains are good as you can load your plate with the items that you want to eat.
 
I've never told anybody.
1 because I doubt they could care and 2 because I wouldn't want to add to the 'you can't eat that' stigma that is attached to us but like others have said, many many restaurants will allow you to make swaps to your meal


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I've told people. Many have no idea what it involves but sounds to them like they need to do something to help.
I generally order a salad or a burger no bun of course and ask to swap the Ben fries and cheese for a side salad. Some will some won't.
 
Keesha said:
How I wish most restaurants have a small diabetic menu since diabetes is becoming an epidemic. This would make life so much easier for diabetics when eating out.


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum
Click to expand...

Well it depends on what you consider to be a suitable diabetic menu doesn't it? I would far rather make my own selection than be told "this is for you diabetics" especially if it followed the eatwell guide!
 
I ate out a lot on my recent holiday:
  • I had some gorgeous fish (we were at the coast) served with stir-fried veggies (asked for extra veg instead of the grilled rosemary potatoes);
  • A salmon salad served with a side-order of.... salad - and I requested they mix the two salads together so I had a huuuuuuge salad which was the envy of the table;
  • Steak (a couple of times) served with veg and more veg, no chips or potatoes;
  • Instead of choosing the full English breakfast (are baked beans REALLY a breakfast item, people?!) - and although bacon and eggs are delicious, and I eat them often - I had smoked haddock served with two poached eggs, no toast;
  • While my husband tucked into a full-on Cornish cream tea I had a plate of poached eggs (on the menu they served breakfast items all day - I just asked for the eggs, no toast);
  • My favourite, favourite eating-out meal of the last fortnight was the 'Beast' burger - two 8oz burgers sandwiched with melted cheese and smoked bacon, served with salad. No bun, no chips. How anyone would actually be able to accommodate the 'Beast' with bun and chips I have no idea - there was only just room for that half bottle of red wine I washed it down with. *coughs*
And for pudding?
CHEESE every time. No crackers, no chutney, just a plate of cheese.

All of the above was such a treat, and delicious - and there weren't any complaints from the waiting staff or from the kitchen at any of the places we ate at. I didn't feel I missed out on anything.

I don't ever have cause to say that I'm diabetic - unless I'm in a stand-off with bar staff over the fact that Schweppes slimline tonic doesn't have any carbs but Fevertree slimline tonic does. This happens quite often, but I generally win this argument when I get them to read the label in front of me...

Bon appetit!



PS Despite the steak and cheese-fest - no weight gain in that nearly two-week eating out blow-out. IT WORKS...!
 
I just order what is on the menu that will be best for my BGS At a family meal in a carvery I had a salad with avocado and crayfish ,most of the adults thought I had the best meal ( the kids all had chips) !
CAROL
 
Wow, what wonderful suggestions from everyone. Will definitely follow the no toast, bun or chips idea. Thank you so much.


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum
 
I often find myself explaining that just because it's 'all-natural sugar', 'wholewheat' or 'gluten-free' that doesn't mean I can eat it. Found quite a lot of ignorance as to what carbohydrate is, amongst waiting staff.
 
No. I try and choose wisely. You can often swap things though. Went to Giraffe the other week and had the most delicious salmon dish with pak choy and other veg, it was absolutely delicious!
 
ChrisSamsDad said:
I often find myself explaining that just because it's 'all-natural sugar', 'wholewheat' or 'gluten-free' that doesn't mean I can eat it. Found quite a lot of ignorance as to what carbohydrate is, amongst waiting staff.
Click to expand...
Before you became a Type 2 were you so aware? They are paid to take an order and bring the food to the table.. depending on the restaurant they may know a bit about the dishes but not a lot more.
 
bulkbiker said:
Before you became a Type 2 were you so aware? They are paid to take an order and bring the food to the table.. depending on the restaurant they may know a bit about the dishes but not a lot more.
Click to expand...
Yes, I believe we covered the basic food groups in Biology in the first year of secondary school.
 
ChrisSamsDad said:
I often find myself explaining that just because it's 'all-natural sugar', 'wholewheat' or 'gluten-free' that doesn't mean I can eat it. Found quite a lot of ignorance as to what carbohydrate is, amongst waiting staff.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't expect them to know, and I certainly wouldn't expect them to do more than carry it out from the kitchen for me, after I order it. Its my problem, not theirs, and I would also be not expect them to be telling me more than what is in the food. It's my choice to eat it or not.
There are also a reasonable range of carbs I will eat when I'm out, it depends entirely on where I am, and what I've been doing, or going to do.
 

Had the Fever tree Schweppes agreement myself ... I probably prefer the later but as I found out it isn't carb free although it's labelled 'light' I think
 
I ask politely if I want to make substitutions, most times its no problem to swap fries for a side salad. But then as a life long veggie I had years of ordering a few side dishes as many places didn't cater for veggies - so I have had lots of practice.
Many chain restaurants do a skinny version of sandwiches and burgers by leaving out the bun or serving in a salad bowl instead.
I typically go to family friendly places that also do veggie options - so not necessarily applicable to you but chains such as Harvester are great and very knowledgeable for swapping carbs - has it on the menu as an option! Nandos and Prezzo do yummy super salads. Prezzo main course such as sea bass or chicken etc has option of side salad instead of fries.

Haven't tried it myself but subway do a salad bowl option to all their sandwiches.

Supermarkets do salads, sliced meats and often packs of hard boiled eggs or ready prepared avocado, cheese and small bags of nuts if you need to buy an impromptu lunch.

M&S cafe do a meat bolognase thing with courgette "noodles" as a lower carb option.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…