ALWAYS ORDER LAST
Whether you're with 39863 people, a small group, or it's just you and a date, always order last. People tend to remember the last thing they've heard the most. You have the most important specifications for your food, and you don't want any of it to get confused or mixed up with anyone else's order. Ordering last helps you and the waitress. Let everyone go before you and save the best for last.
REMEMBER ALL YOUR SPECIFICATIONS
Ok, so it may seem a little overwhelming, especially during your first times ordering out but it's important to remember all the details of how your food needs to be prepared. For me, my list consists of: No grapefruit, no pomegranate, nothing fresh, everything well cooked, etc... It's a lot and can be hard to remember, especially when the thoughts of dancing chicken tenders are pirouetting around in your head. If dancing food is too much of a distraction that you can't remember everything, make a list and carry it around in your pocket/wallet/purse/wherever you'll remember it. Trust me, food is good and you don't want to have a drool worthy dinner only to spend the rest of the night being best friends with the toilet.
TELL THEM YOU HAD A TRANSPLANT!
People in the food service encounter bratty, picky eaters all day. To avoid seeming like another over picky foodie, and more importantly, so you don't get any extra flavoring added (aka... they don't spit in your food), begin your speech by telling them you had a transplant. My responses so far to this have been 1) they are so terrified to kill you that they pay extra attention to you when you speak. 2) Friendliness, compassion, congratulations. 3) Very careful care of you and your food. You are a transplant survivor! Speak up and brag about it ;)
ASK YOUR DOCTOR
It's always a good idea to run the restaurant by your doctor. Sometimes they have the inside scoop on restaurants that might make it an unsafe situation for you, or sometimes you think it's a restaurant you won't be able to eat at and you get a nice surprise when your doc gives you the ok! Whichever way it works out, even if you think it's ok (especially when you first begin eating out again), give your doc/coordinator a text or ring or make a list of all the restaurants you can possibly think of and run through them at clinic. Consider yourself Bugs Bunny and ask "What's up, Doc?"
IF IT LOOKS LIKE A HOLE, THAT'S A NO
As enticing as hole in the wall places can be, if your special guests at the table are cockroaches, it's clearer than crystal that you shouldn't eat there. Ok, most likely you won't see the cockroaches, but basically if it looks dirty or dingy in any way, stay away. Most diners aren't the greatest places to get your munch on, and even some name brand restaurants can be questionable. There's always somewhere else to eat - take an adventure and find it!
BE CRITICAL
Question everything. Pay attention to every detail. Ask to speak with a manager/kitchen manager/chef if you want to. You're not being a pest, you're looking after you new organ(s). If you need to justify it for yourself, you can always pull the transplant card. Repeat after me, "I had an organ transplant, I can do whatever I want." ...except eat the things on my food restriction list.
PICK YOUR PORTION FIRST
If you and your guest(s) order a platter to share, ask for an extra plate and take your portion before anyone else touches it. Also, take more than you think you might eat. Once everyone else's grubby hands have touched the food, it's off limits to you. If you don't finish what you take, other people can always take it off your plate, but it can't go vice versa. It's ok to look like a pig. Again, transplant card, post transplant munchies. Trust me, you're justified.
BON APPETIT!
ENJOY!!! Take it all in! The company, the conversation, the food! Live, Laugh, EAT.
