where is the best place to go out to eat?!?!?!

meganepauli
meganepauli Posts: 4 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
Where do you go when you're trying to stick to your diet but still want to go out with friends or out on a date?
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Replies

  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    Sushi or Vietnamese food. Mmm...
    I also love Panera.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Anywhere. National chains will have their nutrition info online so you can research the best choices for you beforehand. If you're going local or somewhere that doesn't post those, stick to leaner meats, veggies, and less sauces, and do your best to guess what you've eaten.
  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    Apartment complex dumpsters.
  • Mycophilia
    Mycophilia Posts: 1,225 Member
    Burger king, I hear they have great burgers.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Find somewhere that either offers nutritional info or a basic Cafe/restaurant that'll prepare you something that fits your requirements (grilled protein, salad or vegies etc). Or.... Just eat less calories during the day and go for whatever you like. It depends on the occasion!
  • jenncornelsen
    jenncornelsen Posts: 969 Member
    i go to where ever i like best but will usually cut my meal in half and take the rest home. i would maybe not frequent buffets though if u have trouble sticking to one plate!
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    edited April 2015
    I find that almost any restaurant will provide substitutes, all you have to do is ask :smile: I don't drink so that's never an issue. I usually ask to substitute the rice/fries/beans/potatos for double the veggie instead and most places are happy to oblige. I often order sauces, dips and dressings on the side and I always begin my meal with a salad. I will also split my plate in half and ask for a to go container to take half home because most restaurant portions are huge! Once in a great while I indulge in the bread basket and/or a dessert but only if I've had a really good week in terms of calories. Sushi is always yummy and you can ask for the rolls to be wrapped in avocado or cucumber instead of rice. Any steakhouse is awesome if you eat meat... nothing like a piece of grilled lean meat with a giant mixed salad! Yum! Seafood places are a great choice (I avoid fried). If I do have a drink which is rare I usually get either a glass of Moscato (bubbly), or something with soda water / vodka. When I go to the movies, which is rare because I can't sit for that long, I always bring my own snacks and my own popcorn. You will be ok :smiley:
    Do you have a date? :blush:
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Applesbee's, Buffalo Wild Wings (the naked tenders), or yeah, sushi.
  • sandryc79
    sandryc79 Posts: 250 Member
    I had a really satisfying steak with roasted potatoes and a stuffed portabella mushroom at Applebee's last week for under 600 calories. They had several good low calorie selections.
  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
    BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »
    Applesbee's, Buffalo Wild Wings (the naked tenders), or yeah, sushi.

    Being raised in the Buffalo area, Bdubbs offends me... yuck. :-P

    Chipotle is awesome, and you can get a really good burrito bowl for under 400cals, although it does have a LOT of sodium, but... I don't care because it makes my mouth happy.
  • TiffanyR71
    TiffanyR71 Posts: 217 Member
    Sushi is my go-to.
  • brynnsmom
    brynnsmom Posts: 945 Member
    I second or third the sushi. I can eat quite a bit without feeling full and gross.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    This little Mexican restaurant in the town closest to where I live. Margaritas, chips and salsa, and mini chicken chimis. I just plan for it and make it fit. Mmmmmmm!
  • mistikal13
    mistikal13 Posts: 1,457 Member
    When I have to eat out I like Greek food. The options are endless there! Hope this helps.
  • brendak76
    brendak76 Posts: 241 Member
    I've started ordering the kids meals where I go. Good food just smaller portions. Chipotle has been my favorite. I love the kids build your own tacos :smile:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Anywhere I please. We don't eat out all that often...and while I try to make good nutritional decisions and practice portion control, when I'm out to eat I don't bother too much trying to stick to some diet. In my experience, dieting is pretty difficult if you eat out regularly which is one of the big reasons my family just doesn't eat out that often...that, and money.

    We have family pizza night at least once per month, sometimes a couple times at our favorite local pizzeria, Village Pizza.

    My boys also like Sweet Tomatoes a lot and it's a budget friendly way to go with kids as they are free until they are 3 y.o. and after that they're still 1/2 price...this has become a lunch tradition on certain weekends when I take the boys out to do stuff to give mom a break. I'm a big salad eater and I like a good cup of soup so this works well for me and the kids can go to town on the mac and cheese while getting a few veggies in.

    If it's my wife an I for date night, we have a handful of local establishments we like...Farm and Table is one of our favorites and is situated on an actual farm and that is where most of the food comes from. Antiquity is our favorite local steak house. Casa de Benevidez for local New Mexican cuisine. Fat Squirrel or Two Fools for pub grub and brews.

  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    My problem is that I can't stand most chain restaurants. Any time I go to one I'm disappointed and reminded that me or my boyfriend could make a much tastier meal for less money. So when it comes to local restaurants, they usually don't have the nutrition facts on their websites. Have to do a lot of guess work. But at least I'm paying for good food!
  • Lexicpt
    Lexicpt Posts: 209 Member
    Fazoli's and Culver's are two of my faves. Both have lower calorie options if that is what you are looking for.
  • uvi5
    uvi5 Posts: 710 Member
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    Apartment complex dumpsters.

    For some reason, I believe you :lol:
  • deaniac83
    deaniac83 Posts: 166 Member
    If you don't eat out often, I would say treat yourself for a meal and don't worry about it. If you eat out on a regular basis, you have to be mindful of what you eat. I just came back from a vacation (3 nights cruise plus 2 nights in Miami) where the food was great and I ate what I wanted. To my surprise, I came home not gaining any weight (losing a pound, actually). The thing that helped me is I kept my food high protein, moderate-to-high fat and minimal carbs, and I kept my alcohol intake to minimal levels (I have high tolerance, but alcohol isn't always my favorite thing to drink). But I ate till I was happy.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    Wherever. I just check the menu before we go and find something that works for my day. We eat out pretty frequently.
  • uvi5
    uvi5 Posts: 710 Member
    meganridenour wrote: »
    My problem is that I can't stand most chain restaurants. Any time I go to one I'm disappointed and reminded that me or my boyfriend could make a much tastier meal for less money. So when it comes to local restaurants, they usually don't have the nutrition facts on their websites. Have to do a lot of guess work. But at least I'm paying for good food!

    The same for me. Thai restaurants I've generally always enjoyed, but I could imagine the calorie count. I've made thai at home for reasonable cut in the calories, but to make it taste as good as the restaurant's I would need more of the good stuff that raises the calories. Peanut sauce, mmmm I could drink the stuff!
  • tomofnj
    tomofnj Posts: 88 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Farm and Table is one of our favorites and is situated on an actual farm and that is where most of the food comes from.

    That sounds amazingly cool, we have nothing near us like that.
  • tycho_mx
    tycho_mx Posts: 426 Member
    I have small kids. Takeout is common but going out is an occasion. So we make it count - the best places around here are not chains. It is likely that the nicest options for you aren't a Boston Pizza, Keg or a Red Lobster.

    One of our neighbours has a great restaurant. Best steak and frites I've ever had. I simply go light on breakfast and lunch on those days. Other great local options are a sushi restaurant (simply get the sashimi, less rice calories if they make you worried. Miso soup is almost a freebie), thai and lebanese food (go low on the bread, rice and potatoes. The chicken used is breast in my local option).
  • YokiLenko
    YokiLenko Posts: 89 Member
    I've always enjoyed eating at On the Border, a Mexican restaurant. It has great fish tacos, a dish called taco melts, and creamy guacamole. The restaurant itself has great ambiance.
  • ljk0615
    ljk0615 Posts: 160 Member
    edited April 2015
    I haven't eaten at mcalisters deli since I started MFP. I love their food. We were there yesterday and their web site makes logging super simple and there are plenty of options under 500 calories. It's just hard for me to say no to the sweet tea, but sweet tea is one of those things that just isn't worth the calories to me. If you have a mcalisters in your area you should try it out!
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    Cheesecake Factory, hands down.

    Rigger
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    Seasons 52 is nice. Seasonal dishes, calories kept under 500 calories per plate.
  • deviboy1592
    deviboy1592 Posts: 989 Member
    Holy guacamole
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    uvi5 wrote: »
    meganridenour wrote: »
    My problem is that I can't stand most chain restaurants. Any time I go to one I'm disappointed and reminded that me or my boyfriend could make a much tastier meal for less money. So when it comes to local restaurants, they usually don't have the nutrition facts on their websites. Have to do a lot of guess work. But at least I'm paying for good food!

    The same for me. Thai restaurants I've generally always enjoyed, but I could imagine the calorie count. I've made thai at home for reasonable cut in the calories, but to make it taste as good as the restaurant's I would need more of the good stuff that raises the calories. Peanut sauce, mmmm I could drink the stuff!

    Ugh I LOVE my old Thai place back home, but since I've moved to Louisiana I haven't found anything remotely close. In fact, a couple of the restaurants I tried were just down right nasty. I really miss Thai food! Thinking about trying to make it.
    We've mastered Vietnamese spring rolls and my boyfriend makes the best peanut sauce I've ever had, so at least we got that down!
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