I have a date at a restaurant -HELP

smoreault

Hello!!

I have been working hard to lose weight and so far things have been going great for me. My efforts are starting to pay off, to the point where I was even asked out on a date! My date is tonight and I'm excited but it's at a restaurant and I have been staying away from those lately! He chose the place and I really enjoy the fact that he took the initiative to find a nice place for us. The only problem is that the restaurant he picked is known for brewing their own beer and the food is mostly steaks and burgers. The salads on the menu don't seem interesting. I cut it down to two choices and I need your help to pick which one won't cause too much damage. One of the choices is grilled chicken served with vegetables and rice. Second choice is a pizza on flat bread. No meat, sundried tomatoes and cheese. I believe that I can ask for the flat bread to be whole wheat but I'm not too sure. Both meals look huge on the website...
If anyone can help me out with this I would really appreciate it! Thank you!!

Walter__

Hard to go wrong with grilled chicken and veggies > pizza if you're trying to cut back on calories.

JoRocka

not even a question if you're sweating it chicken and veggies. ask for them to go light on any sauce or butters- and if it comes iwth salad and a dressing- to put the dressing on the side.

I'd also ask for a second serving of veggies instead of rice- but I don't like rice that much and to me it's worth it to enjoy my food and not look like a food snob.

Don't sweat it- it's a date- have a good time.

smoreault

Thanks!!

RodaRose

Have a good time!

auddii

I'd personally have a steak with vegetables, and I'd agree on two servings of veggies; rice is not always entertaining to me.

And some steaks are huge, so you can always take some home for leftovers.

VeryKatie

walterc7 wrote: »

Hard to go wrong with grilled chicken and veggies > pizza if you're trying to cut back on calories.

Definitely chicken. You'll still be hungry after that pizza. You could just eat half of the rice and box the rest up.

JoRocka

auddii wrote: »

I'd personally have a steak with vegetables, and I'd agree on two servings of veggies; rice is not always entertaining to me.

And some steaks are huge, so you can always take some home for leftovers.

That's what I would have said- but she already narrowed down to chicken. I kind of hate wasting "over" calories on chicken. I'd rather have a steak.

JeffseekingV

I'd say enjoy yourself and eat what you want. If you go to a steak place and just eat a salad, I'd have to think you'd be a boring dinner date all the time. Jus account for that meal and enjoy yourself

trying4real

Ha!, I would go with the steak also if thats what you enjoy most. You don't always have to eat the sides that comes with it. Eat half and take half home, that is normally what I do.

auddii

JoRocka wrote: »

auddii wrote: »

I'd personally have a steak with vegetables, and I'd agree on two servings of veggies; rice is not always entertaining to me.

And some steaks are huge, so you can always take some home for leftovers.

That's what I would have said- but she already narrowed down to chicken. I kind of hate wasting "over" calories on chicken. I'd rather have a steak.

Yeah, I was just kind of throwing it out there just because people always make the assumption that "chicken is better" for whatever reason. If it's because the OP love chicken, great, but I wouldn't deny myself just for the few calories, or fat, or whatever reason steak is bad.

Also, and this is rather personal to me, the worst dates I've had with my boyfriend is when I have sad food in front of me. My whole mood changes. He still laughs whenever we drive by a restaurant where I had a bad experience. Of course, we'd been dating a while too. And my boyfriend has learned that there is nothing worse than a sad salad...

wkwebby

Order whatever you feel is appetizing, then eat SLOWLY with small bites. Drink lots of water and then take home whatever you can't finish. There shouldn't be anything wrong with eating steak or chicken. It should be what you prefer. Steam your veggies though (it will save the bit of oil to grill them up).

smoreault

Thank you all for your comments!
I try to steer away from red meat, which is why I cut it down to chicken or vegetarian pizza. I really appreciate the comments, chicken it is!

JoRocka

auddii wrote: »

JoRocka wrote: »

auddii wrote: »

I'd personally have a steak with vegetables, and I'd agree on two servings of veggies; rice is not always entertaining to me.

And some steaks are huge, so you can always take some home for leftovers.

That's what I would have said- but she already narrowed down to chicken. I kind of hate wasting "over" calories on chicken. I'd rather have a steak.

Yeah, I was just kind of throwing it out there just because people always make the assumption that "chicken is better" for whatever reason. If it's because the OP love chicken, great, but I wouldn't deny myself just for the few calories, or fat, or whatever reason steak is bad.

Also, and this is rather personal to me, the worst dates I've had with my boyfriend is when I have sad food in front of me. My whole mood changes. He still laughs whenever we drive by a restaurant where I had a bad experience. Of course, we'd been dating a while too. And my boyfriend has learned that there is nothing worse than a sad salad...

YES.
YES.
YES.

When we go to all you can eat brazillian- I often will decline wine (budget issues on my part- and since he pays I try to be cognizant)- and then we spend 10 min in this hushed whispering half fight about the damn 7$ glass of wine- it's one of the few places I go where I order wine- which I really like with my steak- and since it' all you can eat- it's sad to have that and no wine. So he usually talks me into it.

It's comical- I have gotten really fussy over bad food- it does- it's so annoying to have a sh!tty plate of food in front of you and not enjoy it.

JeffseekingV

If I take someone to a BBQ, steak, burger etc... place and my date orders a salad. There's a good chance there will not be a 2nd date.

MelAb8709

Chicken or steak and veggies - I wouldn't go too crazy with substitutions/special requests, if you like this guy he may think you're high maintenance if you go in there all hold the butter, no rice, no bread, don't cook in oil, steam my veggies, etc. Not on a first date ... Hopefully the date is going so well that eating slowly (cuz you're chatting) and stopping at half is easy!

radmack

Filet is a good choice for steak and very yummy.

GreenValli

I agree with trying4real, eat half and take half home. Ask for a "to-go" container when your meal is served, since you know restaurant meals are too big already. You may feel less uncomfortable since it is a date if you say something like, "Oh, I did not think the servings would be this large. I don't usually eat this much for dinner. Could I have a to-go container?" Steak or chicken both seem like good options to me with vegetables.

And good for you for planning ahead and posting to get some ideas to help you. Have a great time!

PRMinx

Steak and veggies for me too! I eat chicken enough as it is....

Amitysk

Sad food makes me sad! When I go out to eat, I may not eat all my dinner, but what I do eat is delicious and flavorful. OP, have a good time and enjoy yourself. Just think in terms of portion control!

zipa78

It's one dinner. It does not matter what you eat. Order six servings of ice cream if you want to. It simply doesn't matter. As long as it doesn't push you over the edge onto a six week binge-eating splurge, of course...

auddii

JeffseekingV wrote: »

If I take someone to a BBQ, steak, burger etc... place and my date orders a salad. There's a good chance there will not be a 2nd date.

On our first date, my (now) boyfriend took me to a steakhouse, and he ordered ahi tuna, which was six small slices on a small bed of rice. I ordered this which is carved table side:


I gave him some, and we both still took some home. Time and time again, he has learned the fact that I order better things off the menu...

JoRocka

auddii wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

If I take someone to a BBQ, steak, burger etc... place and my date orders a salad. There's a good chance there will not be a 2nd date.

On our first date, my (now) boyfriend took me to a steakhouse, and he ordered ahi tuna, which was six small slices on a small bed of rice. I ordered this which is carved table side:


I gave him some, and we both still took some home. Time and time again, he has learned the fact that I order better things off the menu...

I think I love you.

ttcbelieve

Steak and Veggies

emdeesea

I would order a burger and fries and a beer. Guys love to see women eat once in a while.

There's plenty of time for dieting. Live it up a little.

verymissk

JeffseekingV wrote: »

If I take someone to a BBQ, steak, burger etc... place and my date orders a salad. There's a good chance there will not be a 2nd date.

Amen. I order what I think sounds delicious, and I eat slowly and politely and enjoy the date. Because first impressions are important, and I want my date to know that I will throw down some steak and beer when the time calls for it.

Khukhullatus

If there was ever a time not to lose sleep over an extra beer, it's on a date. Don't go crazy, just do the best you can and make sure to stay on track tomorrow. Don't let a bad dinner turn into a bad week.

Cardio4Cupcakes

I think it's great that you're planning ahead, but I would give yourself some slack for tonight. I'm not saying go hog wild, but a brewery date usually implies a beer tasting of some sort. Don't be afraid to agree to sharing an appetizer. One meal didn't cause you to gain all the weight you're trying to lose, and one meal won't derail you as long as you keep your mind right, which definitely seems to be the case.

zipa78

JoRocka wrote: »

auddii wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

If I take someone to a BBQ, steak, burger etc... place and my date orders a salad. There's a good chance there will not be a 2nd date.

On our first date, my (now) boyfriend took me to a steakhouse, and he ordered ahi tuna, which was six small slices on a small bed of rice. I ordered this which is carved table side:


I gave him some, and we both still took some home. Time and time again, he has learned the fact that I order better things off the menu...

I think I love you.

Me too.

1HappyRedhead

To me, the most important thing you're doing is deciding in advance. I try to decide in advance by looking at the menu online, then refuse a menu at the restaurant....that way I'm not tempted to stray from my choice. Then, even if you end up eating the entire meal, you know what your calorie count will be. The importance of this was evident when I chose fish & veggies and my date chose a salad, "because he was trying to eat healthier". I had already seen in advance that there were 4500 calories in that salad!! Needless to say, I was glad I'd made my decision before I got there.

crystalflame

I would order whatever sounds tastiest. Take half home if you need to. If you're in this for the long haul, you're going to have to figure out how to navigate restaurants and eat reasonable amounts of food you really enjoy. I eat chicken and veggies far too many nights a week to get it in a restaurant, I would at least enjoy the pizza and a beer... One night won't ruin all your hard work. (Oh, fair warning: odds are that no matter what you eat, you'll be up a pound or two tomorrow. There will be more sodium than usual in your food, and you will probably retain water. It will go away, so don't freak out!)