No (more) reservations!

Now, more than ever, I see what a blessing in disguise it was for me when Covid shut the world down just weeks after my weight loss surgery. I am grateful that I had the time to sort myself out, both mentally and physically, and properly prepare myself for re-entry into this new world; not the one that everyone else is living in, by MY new normal. As things are starting to open again, and go back to some level of familiarity, I realize that it is going to be a bit like putting a square peg in a round hole for me.

Story of my life, on so many levels these days!

Take a spontaneous meal out at a restaurant for example; something we did a few times a month pre-Covid without hesitation. Now, twice in the last month alone I have been caught completely off guard with restaurant and food choices in such a way that I don’t even care that they are all opening again!

The first time was on soccer night. I have been preparing a picnic dinner to eat on the field before the LO plays but decided to grab Tim Horton’s that day because I simply didn’t have time to make anything beforehand. Since everything there is so carb and sugar heavy there are very few items on their menu that fit my lifestyle, so I looked up the nutritional information online and made my choice long before we had even left the house. I even made sure to choose a back up - just in case. I ordered for DH and then the LO, no problem, and then I asked for my first choice. Out of stock. Ok… good thing for plan B, right? Also, out of stock. Are you kidding me?! Both basic menu items with NO weird substitutions, no funny mix and match combos, nothing out of the ordinary and BOTH out of stock? This is when I made everything complicated and basically pieced together a meal for myself, that they had no clue how to punch into the cash, and decided that I wouldn’t be relying on them for any sort of meal for myself going forward. I mean, even McDonald’s has more options for me, and that’s shocking!

Then, this past weekend we went to a park with my in-laws so that the kids could hang out together and burn off some energy. I specifically chose a park with a grocery store across the street in case anything food/meal related came up. I figured they could all take out from a restaurant in the area, and I could always run over to the grocery store and fend for myself. Well, long story short, the decision was made to drive to a restaurant, and I knew my LO was excited to eat out with her cousins so I shut my mouth and made sure to pull up the menu in the car on the way there. First problem? No kids menu, so she would have cost upwards of 20$ for a burger that probably wouldn’t even be touched. Er… ok, and what about me? I found an 11$ Caesar salad with the option to add an 8$ chicken breast (for protein). Wait, what? A chicken Caesar salad for 19$? I have been living on these for the better part of 8 months now and I can tell you that I’d have a whole week of homemade chicken Caesar salad dinners for 19$! Granted, the restaurant portion would be 3 times what I can eat in one sitting – but that’s just another reason NOT to waste money on it! We did try to go somewhere else a little more accommodating, but with no reservations it was impossible, and just as well because with Covid I am not really comfortable eating in a restaurant just yet anyway. So, I pulled the plug (yes, I will take the blame) and we ended up going our separate ways, causing my LO to be so upset with the abrupt change of plans that we had silent treatment and silent tears, all while holding my hand in a death grip, the whole way home. Feeling gutted for her, I ended up ordering a pizza, which I also don’t eat so I added a side of 10 wings and fries for 14$ - of which I only ate 4 wings. Ridiculous!

So, clearly, restaurant dining is not at all in my favor! We have a few places around home that we have ordered from throughout the pandemic, but my options are extremely limited. In fact, a bunch of friends have been talking about going out for brunch one of these days and I am already having nightmares about how exactly that will work. Thankfully, they all know my health situation so eating around them won’t be an added issue – just ordering will be. Maybe I'll split a plate with someone like I usually do with my kid! 

With the exception of a special event like an engagement or something, I no longer have a problem declining an invitation that is centered around an expensive meal out somewhere. I hated it before and always found it to be such a waste of money, which is one reason why I rarely celebrated my birthday out, but now it really just isn’t worthwhile for me at all! And while I don’t have an issue with this decision, I know that others will, and that is not my problem! I am not asking them NOT to go on my account, I am simply saying don't always expect me to be there. I've already turned down a few lunch invites for when we go back to work, suggesting coffee with others, and we don't even have a return date yet!

I'm just going to spend the money I save on clothes instead!