If you're going out to eat, where/what would you get?

heatherannh23

I realize not everywhere has the same places but I can kind of find similar alternatives if necessary. Trying to eat better and I've been doing so well at home but going out is my issue. Any ideas/advice are much appreciated!

yayamom3

One of my favorite healthy/decent calorie meals is at Panera. Half Mediterranean veggie sandwich with a cup of broccoli cheddar soup and an apple. Delish!

adge1475

Qdoba forever

970Mikaela1

Local mexican restaurant, local pizza place,red robin,taco time,taco johns, krispy kreme,cheesecake factory,toucanos,fuddruckers,local sushi place....

jvs125

I usually go for sushi, then over there I have soup, some meat items and a few pieces of sushi with no fempura in them.

Lasmartchika

Gee. .. where don't I go to eat? What don't I order? I go out to enjoy the time out and the food with no worries or freaking out. If you're really worried about the big portions, whatever you order, eat half - take the other half in a to go box. Simple, no stress.

dbmata

There's this little french place I like, because I finally found a chef whose french training is far better than mine.

Laurend224

Our vegan options are pretty limited here. It's either Mellow Mushroom or our Chinese restaurant. I'm not confident that other restaurants will adhere to our restrictions.

Walter__

Chipotle. You can order to suit your needs.

Want less carbs? Ditch the tortilla, get a bowl. Want less fat? Ditch the sour cream. Etc etc

111YoYo111

I don't know if they have Boston Pizza where you are but if they do try the steak & veggie dinner, comes with salad 410 calories

SLHysell

Going out to eat at a nice restaurant is very rare in my household. I think of it as a major treat, so when I go out I eat anything I want. Strangely though, my appetite isn't what it once was. I still don't end up eating as much as I used to. Also, I don't ever order a drink (unless it is a cocktail) with my meal. That saves a lot of calories that don't really give me much extra pleasure anyway.

For fast food, I mostly stick with Subway and get the turkey. That's about the healthiest fast food I've found that I really like. If not Subway, I'll do Wendy's and get the grilled chicken. I rarely get fries; they are crazy high in calories. McDonalds is a total bust. If I eat there, I just bite the bullet and enjoy the zillion calories.

sheepotato

There is a Thai place down the street from me that I love, it's usually my first choice unless my husband is sick of it. I usually go for Vietnamese, bar-b-q, Indian, Greek, somewhere that makes things I can't be bothered to cook for myself. I love when food is well-seasoned, sometimes the food I make at home is bland and it's nice to get away from that.

Like others have said, I usually take half my food home for a different meal or share it while I'm there.

Archerychickge

I usually look at the menus online ahead of time and get an idea of what's available within the caloric range I have to work with. I will often place my order and ask for a box at the same time. When the food comes I immediately put 1/2 in the box. That way I can still enjoy the yummy stuff without going over my daily goals. When I get home I'll weigh and measure the remaining half so I can accurately log what I ate. And I get the added bonus of having the yumminess the next day for lunch too!

Another thing that drives my husband nuts (but I don't care) is I often ask for the sauces, cheeses, and toppings on the side. That way I can control how much I actually eat.

sullus

Generally speaking I will avoid Applebees like the plague - massive salt and fat content - however they have a new-ish lower cal menu which is ok. I've tried the chicken and avacado dish they have and the Sirloin and Whole Grains. Both are nice.

If I'm picking, I'm choosing this place: http://www.joefish.net/#!menu-dinner/cmbp

Their under 500 calorie menu is incredible.

malibu927

I go wherever sounds good and I can make fit into my day. Yesterday I got the Chicken Caesar Salad at Buffalo Wild Wings, which satisfied me better than an order of boneless wings and potato wedges (my old go-to) would have.

jpaulie

Here in Canada we have Swiss Chalet. Great Healthy Chicken (eat skinless) with lots of protein and not too much sodium. Only restaurant I will go to on a weight training day

johbro

We don't have many restaurants in our town. Tonight, we have decided to go out too.
Probably will be Applebee's, they have an under 600 cal menu. I've tried it once, small portions and not too bad.

cwolfman13

I generally only eat out at local establishments. It's also a rarity, so I don't fuss too much about it though I do try to keep my nutrition in mind.

Keep in mind that "healthy" doesn't necessarily have anything to do with calories...and at restaurants, most entrees are going to be anywhere between 800 - 1200 calories depending, even if it's a "healthy" dish. Restaurant serving sizes are generally 2x or more what would typically be the "recommended" serving...not to mention they do use full fat everything and lots of oils and whatnot...not inherently a bad thing, just calorie dense.

Example, one of my favorite local joints has this incredible Ahi Tuna Asian Salad...it is packed full of awesome nutrition...but it still clocks in at around 800 calories if you only use half of the dressing they provide on the side.

Francl27

Next on my list is Seasons 52 as one just opened here, but otherwise, it really depends on what I'm in the mood for. The only places I avoid are Perkings and Bob Evans. Most places have decent options for less than 700 calories.

yogicarl

I ring ahead and speak to the manager and agree a bespoke dish and price. Most places don't mind so long as you are realistic as to what they can buy in, already have in stock and can reasonably prepare.

jgnatca

I agree with Swiss Chalet.

We're trying to cut back our spending so our favourite fast food places are Subway and Wendy's. Of the fast-food options, I think Wendy's has the best salads.

dbmata

yogicarl wrote: »

I ring ahead and speak to the manager and agree a bespoke dish and price. Most places don't mind so long as you are realistic as to what they can buy in, already have in stock and can reasonably prepare.

That's what I do for special nights.

20yearsyounger

I agree that AppleBees can be a little salty. Ruby Tuesdays worked well for me a few months ago. I got the main meat dish and hit the salad bar. It also allowed me to eat a biscuit and half a dessert.

SuggaD

My favorite places where I live are: Panera Bread (not so much these days since I've gone Gluten Free), any pizza place with gluten-free pizza, Mooyah Burger (awesome turkey burgers on lettuce wrap), LePeep, Zoe's Kitchen, salad bars, including Jason's deli (though I hate salads when its cold out, so its a summer/spring thing), California Pizza Kitchen, chinese food, Furr's, Golden Corral, and various non-chain places

NikonPal

I ALWAYS check restaurant nutrition online before going and pre-select a few different main items, so I know what I am ordering without making it a big deal. If that information is not available – I don’t go to that restaurant. Most major chains have this information readily available. Applebees, Ruby Tuesdays etc. and others have Weight Watcher type recommends.

I did run into a situation with one restaurant recently…I have a gift card from my daughter. They said they didn’t have info to provide. I found one of their Mexican restaurants in another state that listed calories etc. Their Chimichanga w/ chicken had 1850 calories and 4960 mg sodium! That doesn’t count the chips on the table, drinks, sides, desert etc. Someone could easily hit 4000 calories in one meal.

rbfdac

I just check the menu ahead of time if I'm attempting to stay within calorie goals. If not, I eat whatever I feel like eating and just attempt to eat in moderation.

Aiko831

It would depend.... What time of day it is, and where am going...

During lunch time-
I would opt for something that is balanced between protein and carbs.
Sandwich on whole wheat- no mayo.
veggie pizza


Usually opt for a salad (light on the dressing- or no dressing at all)
- Chicken breast with veggies (no mashed potatoes!!!!)
- Salmon, or tilapia with veggies (again, no starch carbs)
-protein burger ( no bun) def no fries and no soda!!!!!

I like Applebee's because they have good options for people like me..
guess it depends on your diet.. I don't like starchy carbs at night, and def
no refined sugars!

nickatine

Ruby Tuesdays: salmon with zuchini and spaghetti squash, Wendy's: cashew chicken salad, subway: roast beef on 9 grain., taco delmar: beef tacos,. McDonald's sausage egg mcmuffin.

segacs

I eat anywhere I want. I guesstimate calories as best I can and make sure to buffer my guesses. I eat smaller amounts and leave over plenty on my plate (or take half of it home). And I just enjoy it.

In general, some cuisines will be lower-calorie than others. Italian is very calorie-dense, for example. Vietnamese and Korean have good options at lower calories. Tapas can be a good option too since you get smaller portions and can just order fewer of them.

But you don't have to deprive yourself of your favourite foods to lose weight. Eat what you like; just eat less of it.

mtruitt01

I mostly eat at home; easier to control calories.

segacs

Yeah but eating mostly at home is also kinda boring.

I figure, it's a lifestyle change, not a diet. I know I can't control everything in life, and that's okay, because it's much more fun to just exist in the chaos sometimes. So, OP, eat in restaurants if you like sometimes. Just learn critical skills like eyeballing portions, choosing healthier items off menus, or stopping to eat when you're full.