Restaurant chains are probably the fastest growing industry and recent studies have shown that 29% of our meals are consumed outside home. This not only drains our pocket but also washes down all our efforts to stay healthy. The mindless munching, the enticing aroma of food and the stimulation of appetite, the comfortable services provided by the restaurants lead us to lose control on ourselves and we end up indulging immensely. Eating out and yet staying within healthy limits has become extremely challenging and of great concern.
Here are some tips to eating healthy while dining out:
1. The most important aspect of eating out should be to select a restaurant that has healthy, low calorie and flexible menu. Always look at the menu before entering any restaurant or doing a take away.
2. Once the above step is achieved your aim should be to avoid sugar loaded beverages and instead ask for a glass of water. If you want to have alcohol go for a glass of wine, beer or just vodka and tonic.
3. Chose to order appetizer but avoid anything that’s fried, breaded or crisped. Order some vegetable loaded appetizer that’s light and appealing.
4. Order a salad with dressing on the side. Avoid immersing the beautiful and crispy lettuce into the fat laden creamy dressing. Instead use a clean fork and dip it into the dressing and skewer a forkful of raw salad. You won’t believe how delicious your salad would taste.
5. When ordering an entrée try to mold it according to your requirements, like increasing the vegetables and asking for grilled protein instead of fried. Don’t just accept the order as is. Always order your food mindfully and make it as healthy as you can.
6. Always dress up when you plan to eat out. This will make you feel conscious of your appearance and you will automatically indulge consciously and within limits.
7. Eat slowly and chew your food. This will let your brain know when you are full and you will not overeat.
8. Always ask for a to go box for half of your portion even before your plate arrives. This way you are already in control of your portions even before you start digging into it and your calorie limit stays intact.
9. Skip the dessert. If you want to eat dessert at all order for a fruit plate without any fancy dressing or toppings. This will provide you with lots of fiber, nutrition and yet keep you in shape.
Just follow these few simple steps and enjoy your meal outside repeatedly without feeling guilty of indulgence and exceeding your calorie limits. Always remember to work out regularly and stay in good shape with a strong and healthy mind and body.
Health Tip of the week
“Plan your diet well before indulging in restaurant eating.”
References:
Kairi Gainsborough says
It is a good suggestion to ask for a box for your food before your dish even comes. It limits your portions, plus you end up with something to eat later in the day. This would be a good thing to try at a restaurant will really good food and big portions.
Amanda Drew says
I like your suggestion to get appetizers that have a lot of vegetables that are still appealing and light. My husband and I are trying to eat a lot better than we have been, so we need to find new restaurants and find new methods to do so. I think that another good thing we could do is to find one that uses a farmers market to get their produce and other things from. We’ll have to get those vegetable appetizers once we find a restaurant we can go to.
Rachel Lannister says
Thank you for these great tips. You mentioned that you should look at a restaurant’s menu before you eat there. Especially since I am trying to eat healthier this day, I could look at their menu and see if they have healthy options. With healthy options, I could enjoy all the benefits of eating out with friends but still stay on my diet. Thanks for the read.
Sarah Smith says
I’m trying to eat healthily even when I go out to eat. I appreciate the information about how you should choose to order an appetizer that is light and appealing. Something else to do is to make sure you eat in moderation and stuff yourself to full.
Lauren Woodley says
I really like the suggestion you gave to dress up with you plan to eat out. As you say, this helps you to be more mindful about what you’re eating and how much you’re eating. Additionally, like you said in the first point, you should be choosing restaurants that have low calorie, flexible menus. I think that when you dress up, you’ll be more conscious about the restaurant you pick, too, so that you get places with this type of menu. This way, you can get healthier grilled options or even fresh seafood options. Thanks for sharing!
Gary says
I agree with chewing your food slowly! We are so programmed to devour our food in minutes. Enjoy that tasty meal!
Gary
http://www.theraftrestaurant.com
Simon Brooks says
These are some really interesting tips to stay fit while eating out, I’m particularly intrigued by what you said about to-go boxes in tip number eight. I suppose asking for a to-go box before you’ve even eaten the meal does have it’s advantages. Not only do you get to control your portions immediately, as you pointed out in the article, it means that you can save some of your meal for the next day as well.
Marie Watson says
Thanks for suggesting some ways you can make sure you still eat healthy when you are at a restaurant. I like that you mention how important it is that you choose the right restaurant. You make a good point about how it might be helpful to look at the menu before you decide. It also seems like someplace like a bar and grill might be a good choice since I would think that there are usually a lot of different options on the menu.
Nathan Johnson says
Thanks for these tips about eating healthy even when eating out. My wife and I are usually very healthy but we travel quite often and we don’t usually do as well on the road. I feel like I lose my will to be healthy as soon as I walk through the doors of a restaurant. I like your idea to ask for a to-go box and put half of the entree inside so that you are not tempted to overeat. Thanks for the ideas!