Gastric Bypass Buffet Discount

[cdepauli]

I just saw this on my local news:

Gastric Bypass Surgery Discount Policy
Year #1 – 50% discount off base price.
Year #2 – 10% discount off base price.
Year #3 – 0% discount off base price.
To receive this discount you must provide Photo ID & Gastric Bypass Card!
Card must include, Patient Name, Date Of Original Surgery & Doctors Signature.
Without complete documentation on Gastric Bypass Card 0% discount.

http://www.shady-maple.com/smorgasbord/daily-menu-pricing

Discuss.

 

[FireDancer]

Interesting. If I am only going to get a single serving from the buffet because I see no need to eat 4 meals in one sitting can I get a discount too? If you are going to charge people differently at a buffet based on how much they eat they should just tie an Easy-Pass around your neck and charge you per trip.

 

[cdepauli]

Interesting. If I am only going to get a single serving from the buffet because I see no need to eat 4 meals in one sitting can I get a discount too? If you are going to charge people differently at a buffet based on how much they eat they should just tie an Easy-Pass around your neck and charge you per trip.

This is what I was thinking. I never go to buffets for this very reason. Will they now try to woo my business by offering a discount because I only get one plate and one dessert? I just thought it was interesting.

Actually, since I'm pregnant and in my second trimester, I COULD eat 4 meals in one sitting. Maybe I should do the buffet thing while I can and get my money's worth!

 

[MushyMushy]

Interesting. If I am only going to get a single serving from the buffet because I see no need to eat 4 meals in one sitting can I get a discount too? If you are going to charge people differently at a buffet based on how much they eat they should just tie an Easy-Pass around your neck and charge you per trip.

Either that or charge per pound of food. I know a lot of restaurants charge before you go through a buffet, but I've been to ones that charge afterwards.

 

[nmmom95]

Interesting. If you are going to charge people differently at a buffet based on how much they eat they should just tie an Easy-Pass around your neck and charge you per trip.

That actually made me LOL.

 

[MIGrandma]

The restaurant where I used to work gave a discount on the buffet for gastric bypass patients. They did have to have the card from their doctor, they couldn't just say "oh, I had gastric bypass so can I have a discount?"

The buffet (we had a full menu as well, so they didn't HAVE to get the buffet if they didn't want to) was $9.95 and the owner would let bypass patients have it for half price.

The bypass patients that I waited on typically had a teeny tiny dinner salad, and then maybe a chicken leg and a tablespoon or two of mashed potatoes and/or dressing with gravy and that was about it so she didn't mind doing the discount for people like that.

But, we did have a few who eventually would go back to their "old eating habits" and we weren't allowed to give them the discount any longer. We just had to tell them, and why. That was really awkward. But when they're eating 2-3 plates full of food, like anyone else, they don't deserve the discount.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I thought once they had the surgery, they could no longer eat 2-3 plates of food or their stomach would tear? Is this true?

 

[MIGrandma]

I thought once they had the surgery, they could no longer eat 2-3 plates of food or their stomach would tear? Is this true?

From what I've heard, they start out eating extremely small amounts of food because their stomach can't tolerate it. But, over time, the stomach will stretch back out if they start overeating again.

 

[cdepauli]

I guess the problem I have with it is that there are other medical conditions that can impact appetite, for example a chemo patient, who do not eat more than one plate of food, so why are gastric bypass patients receiving something for a medical condition when there are others in the same boat for other reasons.

Also, to play devil's advocate, wouldn't a small appetite (I literally would not eat very much more than what MIGrandma described) be considered a "congenital" disorder. I was just born this way! Shouldn't I get a discount? (I don't actually believe this).

I guess it just seems like, if you don't think your appetite is enough to warrant the cost of eating at a buffet, why would you go and eat at a buffet? Why wouldn't you just go and eat somewhere else? Why do you need/deserve a discount when you choose to go somewhere that you think is overpriced for what you are getting?

I don't even go to Boma, whose food I think I would actually enjoy, because it is a buffet. It just is silly for me to spend that kind of money when I don't eat a lot at once. At least at a sit down restaurant, I can take the food with me.

I do like the idea of charging per pound of food.

 

[momof1princess]

From what I've heard, they start out eating extremely small amounts of food because their stomach can't tolerate it. But, over time, the stomach will stretch back out if they start overeating again.

gastric bypass patient here this is partially true-if a gastric bypass patient overeats (which i've done a few times, old habits die REALLY hard), they usually vomit it back up. however, over time, the stomach does stretch, and usually, someone like myself who is several years postop (6 years, in my case) can eat about the same amount of food as an average person. the trick is to learn to eat healthy, so that as the stomach stretches, it has little effect on the person's weight, because their eating habits have changed and, in an ideal situation, they're exercising regularly.

we do start out eating minute amounts of food-the first 2-3 months after surgery, 3 bites of mashed peas from a baby spoon would fill me up. i wish that were still true, lol, i've lost about 190 pounds, but could stand to lose another 30.

for the record, i have a restaurant card, but have never used it. i'd be too embarrassed. i ate far more than my share before surgery, i don't mind paying full price now.

 

[MIGrandma]

I guess the problem I have with it is that there are other medical conditions that can impact appetite, for example a chemo patient, who do not eat more than one plate of food, so why are gastric bypass patients receiving something for a medical condition when there are others in the same boat for other reasons.

Also, to play devil's advocate, wouldn't a small appetite (I literally would not eat very much more than what MIGrandma described) be considered a "congenital" disorder. I was just born this way! Shouldn't I get a discount? (I don't actually believe this).

I guess it just seems like, if you don't think your appetite is enough to warrant the cost of eating at a buffet, why would you go and eat at a buffet? Why wouldn't you just go and eat somewhere else? Why do you need/deserve a discount when you choose to go somewhere that you think is overpriced for what you are getting?

I don't even go to Boma, whose food I think I would actually enjoy, because it is a buffet. It just is silly for me to spend that kind of money when I don't eat a lot at once. At least at a sit down restaurant, I can take the food with me.

I do like the idea of charging per pound of food.

Personally, I never understood why my boss allowed the gastric bypass patients to use the card. If the restaurant only served the buffet, and the person was with a group of others who wanted to come there and they had no choice but to eat there, then yes, maybe the card should be used in that situation since they had no other choice in what to eat.

But. Since we had a full menu they could have ordered ala carte off that. Maybe have a cup of soup, or a small dinner salad, or one piece of chicken, or a side order of mashed potatoes, etc. There was no reason they HAD to get the buffet.

If I were the owner of the restaurant I don't think I would have allowed the use of the cards.

I agree that there are too many other reasons a person would feel that they deserved a discount on the buffet price.

 

[Aisling]

If you are going to charge people differently at a buffet based on how much they eat they should just tie an Easy-Pass around your neck and charge you per trip.

 

[*BTMRR*]

Interesting. If I am only going to get a single serving from the buffet because I see no need to eat 4 meals in one sitting can I get a discount too? If you are going to charge people differently at a buffet based on how much they eat they should just tie an Easy-Pass around your neck and charge you per trip.

Funniest thing I've heard today!
I'm afraid I'm usually tempted to eat more than my share at a buffets. I try to avoid them for that reason!