Restaurants unable to provide carb info

[Henryw11]

Hi, my nephew has just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He had booked a fancy restaurant before being diagnosed that he was really looking forward to going to. Not wanting him to have to cancel I contacted the restaurant to ask if they can provide me with the carb details. Unfortunately they came back saying it's not possible but they've had many diabetic guests before and they'll be able to accommodate his dietary needs. I don't understand how they will be able to accommodate his needs if they are unable to provide the carbohydrate details. Has anyone else been in a similar scenario?
Would be a real shame to have to cancel the booking but assume we'll need to find another restaurant that can provide the carb details.
Thanks for taking the time to read.

 

[Kaylz]

You will find that a lot of restaurants can't actually provide this information which proves annoying, does he have a carbs and cals book he could refer to, do you know what they offer on the menu, things like fish, chicken without sauces don't have enough to be counted really, salads, eggs so like omelette's and stuff don't either x

 

[trophywench]

Don't cancel it!

Simply - don't overload on carby stuff. He has to get used to winging it and trying to make sensible choices, whilst leading a normal enough life, so why not start now?

Plus - his birthday is only once a year - so it's there to be enjoyed. A diabetes blogger in Australia that a lot of us find really helpful has a tagline that says 'All things in moderation - except laughter!' which absolutely covers it really. But really in all honesty - it is only the carbs we need to watch, and they are the only thing we need to jab for, normally. So - heavy on the steak (protein) and green veg (carbs negligible) and light on the chips. ISTR from 1972 that roughly 7 average sized chips - 10g carb, same as 60g (an egg sized) spud.

 

[HOBIE]

Life is not always easy is it ? He will find lots of things that are not what they say they are. If you said how many carbs in a banana, depends on the size/weight. You learn as you go. Good lick & enjoy nt out. 🙂

 

[Henryw11]

Thanks for your reply. He does have an app which lists all the carbs but the menu (https://sketch.london/menus/Parlour_Menus.pdf) for the restaurant is a little hard to decipher what the carb count may be. He's going for breakfast so perhaps he's best off just ordering the basics without the sauces.
I'll be checking with all restaurants I now go to if they provide nutritional information and if not will be sure to leave my comments for the managers.

 

[stephknits]

to be honest, I would really rather work out the carbs myself, than have someone at the restaurant do it. Portion size when plating up can vary, you might feel like something different on the day, etc. if he takes along the carbs and Cals book or app he can make a good enough guess at the time.
I have only ever known chain type restaurants to provide carb info, but again, with portion size not an exact science, I would still look at my plate when it arrived and work it out myself, baring in mind the figure given on the website.
As time goes on, you can mostly guess quite accurately what the carbs are - you get your eye in as it were, so I really wouldn't worry about choosing places that give you the carb content or restricting restaurant choices in the future.
I hope he has a lovely time and scrummy breakfast 🙂

 

[grovesy]

I often go to an independent restaurant /cafe and they are quite happy to omit stuff like bread if I just ask for scrambled and chirzo without the bagel it comes with normally.

 

[trophywench]

Bostin' brekkie menu! Dependant on size, anywhere in France a plain croissant is usually approx. 25g + whatever if you have jam, pains au chocolat are around 30g and a chausson au pommes nearer 40g. Don't bolus upfront for any of these - they are FULL of butter which slows the carbs down quite a lot. One slice of a 'small tin loaf sized' brioche (approx 4ins square by 0.5ins depth) is around 20g - again, we have to allow for the jam cos it's nice, but a tad boring on its own. If they are separate mini brioches then it's anyone's guess, I'd have to eyeball and guess myself. Almond tarte - difficult - it will be a pastry tart, full of creme patisserie and no doubt bloody delish but carbs might well be in the stratosphere.

None of the egg dishes except the one with the brioche, appears to have much in the way of carbs. (Odd that they say 'black pudding' really - it's 'baudin noir' in French LOL) However - if the eggs Florentine are served on half a toasted English muffin as the dish (and Eggs Benedict) would usually be served sitting upon - the half muffin will be at least 20g. I could happily eat any of their Oeuf proposals.

I don't want the pancake though - Grenadine is pomegranate syrup - and eek - grapefruit jelly - clueless about the carbs in either the pancake or the accompaniments.

Also keep all of the fruit juices away - a very small glass (150ml) of OJ is at least 10g if not 15g of carb and is usually used as hypo remedy! - so just feed me a grande tasse (or breakfast bowl) of your excellent café au lait, SVP, m'sieur ! Mercy bucket.

As I said - Just enjoy! - and pay the price you might have to, after.

When eating out anywhere - never bolus until you actually have whatever it is in front of you because as has been said portion sizes might differ, there may be an unforseen delay in serving you - the chef might have gone hypo in the kitchen, or anything! (Yes, that sometimes happens, No 1 daughter works in a mega-bust pub kitchen with several fellow chefs - two of whom are T1s! - and have been known to do just that on occasion)

 

[Stitch147]

Bostin' brekkie menu! Dependant on size, anywhere in France a plain croissant is usually approx. 25g + whatever if you have jam, pains au chocolat are around 30g and a chausson au pommes nearer 40g. Don't bolus upfront for any of these - they are FULL of butter which slows the carbs down quite a lot. One slice of a 'small tin loaf sized' brioche (approx 4ins square by 0.5ins depth) is around 20g - again, we have to allow for the jam cos it's nice, but a tad boring on its own. If they are separate mini brioches then it's anyone's guess, I'd have to eyeball and guess myself. Almond tarte - difficult - it will be a pastry tart, full of creme patisserie and no doubt bloody delish but carbs might well be in the stratosphere.

None of the egg dishes except the one with the brioche, appears to have much in the way of carbs. (Odd that they say 'black pudding' really - it's 'baudin noir' in French LOL) However - if the eggs Florentine are served on half a toasted English muffin as the dish (and Eggs Benedict) would usually be served sitting upon - the half muffin will be at least 20g. I could happily eat any of their Oeuf proposals.

I don't want the pancake though - Grenadine is pomegranate syrup - and eek - grapefruit jelly - clueless about the carbs in either the pancake or the accompaniments.

Also keep all of the fruit juices away - a very small glass (150ml) of OJ is at least 10g if not 15g of carb and is usually used as hypo remedy! - so just feed me a grande tasse (or breakfast bowl) of your excellent café au lait, SVP, m'sieur ! Mercy bucket.

As I said - Just enjoy! - and pay the price you might have to, after.

When eating out anywhere - never bolus until you actually have whatever it is in front of you because as has been said portion sizes might differ, there may be an unforseen delay in serving you - the chef might have gone hypo in the kitchen, or anything! (Yes, that sometimes happens, No 1 daughter works in a mega-bust pub kitchen with several fellow chefs - two of whom are T1s! - and have been known to do just that on occasion)

Great response Jenny, gave me a bit of a giggle.