The other day we all went out for a meal, in the pub I checked out the menu and not being able to eat a `normal` size plate I scanned the menu for kids meals. To my surprise they didnt sell kids meals but did sell.....
`SMALL MEALS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO HAVEN`T GOT A BIG APPITITE`
how nice was that to see. So i didnt have to explain why I wanted a small meal or have to show the card.
On the reverse side went out to a fast food chain (Not one of the well known companies) on the motorway, stopped for a quick bite. Thought I`d try the kids cheeseburger and chips, only to be told sorry we dont have kids burgers.....not bad for a burger food chain!!!!!
Written by
Mick
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If anybody would like a restaurant card, please contact our helpline 0121 704 9860. We do two versions - one asks for a child-size portion; the other one requests being able to access toilet facilities urgently.
I so agree with you regarding smaller meals, as I don't want it to look like my eye's are bigger than my belly (which they could do!!!!) but I don't want to look like I am wasting food either. So like you I do ask if there is a smaller menu available most of the time there is which is great. The fast food places also do kids size.
After nearly six years my 2 favourite local restaurants now know me well and only serve small meals each time I visit.
We also have a local pub selling small, medium and large meals, instead of kids meals.
My wife and I often ask for kids meals, only had one instance of not available to us so far, we did not stay to eat there.
Other options are having a starter only but served same time as main for the others, or we sometimes just have starters only and share a pud.
Or go large and ask for two plates, this also works very well in fast food outlets if no kids meals available, also large cod and chips split between 2 is about right for us and can be cheaper than 2 small meals.
Problem with me, and others I'm sure, is that if it's on the plate I will eat it and suffer later.
That was nice Mick..first time I used my card to have a pub meal, I showed the card to the landlord and he was very agreeable, however when the meal was served, the lady serving the meal said in a loud voice obviously to embarrass me 'do you realise that these are for under 10's only' I never ate there again.
Sorry you had this embarrassing situation, hopefully its just a one off.
I think that shows poor service from the waitress, if you ask people that know me you will find out I `dont suffer fools gladly` and in your case I would have said to her in the same loud voice `YES i do know and thats because I have had surgery to remove cancer from my oesphagus and can`t eat very much`..then ask to speak to the landlord, especially as he was agreeable in the 1st place. Dont get me wrong I hate to be treated like an idiot and if something is wrong I tell them so.
The same day as we found the pub serving small meals. we had tried to get into a carvery I was told it would be a 30 minute wait. Being out for the day we were happy to wait. The place was busy so I went to the bar and after 15 minutes waiting to be served and being ignored, I went back to the entrance and complained about about being ignored at the bar and how poor the service was, told them I wasnt going to put money in their pockets and walked out in a bad mood. 20 minutes later this is where we found this other pub serving `Small meal`
We have all had to put up with a great deal of pain and all the problems after surgery and to be treated this way is not acceptable.
I have found in this short time that cancer of the oesphagus is not widely known about, everybody has heard about all the others types (lung, breast etc) but not many know what we have been through, so whenever I meet friends/work collegues I tell them what I have been through. Quite a few are surprised and what surgery is involved. Gives them `food for thiught`.
Thanks Mick, yes even friends keep trying to force drinks and food on me and I have explained for three years, sorry I would love to have it but it's not possible. My brain tells me I want it but I know my stomach (whats left of it) just wont tolerate it.
Hi Mick. I can relate to yours and all the other comments stated. I'm 12 months post op and still have diffilculty in restaurants and pubs despite showing the card.
If i have problems with the staff i use a loud voice to explain my problem at the same time lifting my top to show the scar. That usually makes the stroppy person beat a hasty retreat from the other diners. Keep up the good work
Nice one, what you said about using a loud voice. I`m sure many have had a difficult time adjusting to being told we have cancer, the op, recovery and getting used to the new `plumbing` The one thing I want is to be treated with a little understanding, we have enough to put up with eating less.
Raise these problems by talking to others, word of mouth will eventually win through. The more people who become aware of oesphageal cancer the more they will understand.
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