Dining Out: Strategies for Life, Living Well with Vision Loss

Renee Man, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
October 1, 2008

Last month’s column discussed tips to make it easier to eat at home.  Keeping those in mind, eating at restaurants with family or friends is a common social activity that can be enjoyable and fun.  By using a few simple skills and strategies, people with new vision loss can feel comfortable when dining out.

A common complaint about restaurants is that they are often dark, poorly lit, and crowded.  It may be necessary to take the arm of a sighted companion in order to make it safely to the table.  It is perfectly acceptable to mention your vision loss to the hostess and to ask for a table that will best suit your needs, i.e. booth vs. table, proximity to the restroom, or lighting issues.  Keep in mind that sitting near a window can cause glare. 

After being seated and getting comfortable with the table set up there are a few options for reading the menu.  It may be possible to read the menu online and make your selection in advance.  A lighted magnifier may work well for in this environment. Otherwise, the waiter or a dining companion can read the menu aloud. It may be helpful to have the categories read aloud first to help narrow down the options.  And, of course you may just ask if the restaurant serves what you are craving.

Choosing a food that is easier to handle, a sandwich for example, may be a good way to ease back into the comfort of dining out.  If the meal comes with a vegetable it may be helpful to ask to have it served in a separate bowl.  The same goes for salad, which is much easier to eat from a bowl than a plate.  Most restaurants would also be happy to cut your meat in the kitchen before it is brought to the table.  Ask for this service when ordering.  Fancier chefs will even arrange the meat on the plate so that it is beautifully presented.  Once your food is served you can listen for the sounds of silverware or ask a companion if everyone has been served before beginning to eat.

When at a buffet, go through the line with someone else who can announce what the options are.  This allows you to be aware of all the options and puts you in control of what ends up on the plate. There is no one “right” way but most prefer to hold their own plate and silverware while the other person serves the food. Keeping elbow contact allows both parties to maneuver safely and effectively through the line.

At the end of the meal the server will again be available to assist with the bill. It is a good idea to keep a signature guide handy to make it easier to “sign on the dotted line”.

With time and practice, skills and confidence can be built.  So get out and enjoy the many wonderful options available for dining outside of the home!

Perkins Outreach Services for Ages 55 and Older, Outreach@Perkins.org, 617-972-7643.

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