What do you eat at restaurants?
Jlan11
Posts: 61 Member
Hello, today we ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant and I tried to keep it low carb. I basically had chicken fajitas without any sides and I added cheese to the chicken. I'm really hoping the cheese didn't have any hidden carbs! What are some things you eat when you go out to eat? So far it's been my biggest dilemma!
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Steak is my go-to if it's on the menu. And I'll drench it in real butter. Steamed veggies for a side. I try to stay away from salads since the dressings are usually full of sugars. Burgers are sometimes a safe bet. Toss the bun, of course and ask to make sure the burger doesn't have carb laden fillers. Fish if it isn't breaded. Pork chops if they aren't breaded. Any restaurant that serves breakfast all day will have bacon and eggs, just don't get the toast or hash browns.1
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I usually scope out the nutritional menu beforehand so I can see if there's any hidden carbs. But my go-to is usually steak and steamed veggies or sautéed veggies, cobb salad with blue cheese dressing (blue cheese dressing is usually safe), classic hot wings! Or lettuce wrapped burgers.2
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I like the Mexican places like Chipotle where you can get a bowl - no rice or beans.
Steak
Big caesar salad with protein (no croutons)
Several places we like have bacon wrapped shrimp as an appetizer. I get that as my meal with a side salad.2 -
For a Mexican place, fajitas are great, just toss the tortillas. Cheese always contains some carbs, but I've never seen a Mexican blend that would contain more than 1.5g/oz. The peppers and onions will also contain a negligible amount, unless they've added sugar to them, which I've never seen. In most Mexican food, salt is the go to fling around additive.2
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Almost always have a bacon cheeseburger without the bun, or steak and veggies with butter2
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my husband insisted on Boston's last night (it's either a spinoff of Boston Pizza or used to be a Boston Pizza - either way it was pretty slim pickings for me) and I had oven baked wings and a grilled chicken cobb salad. Not the greatest at 13g carbs but there was no steak on the menu, which is normally my go-to!0
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my husband insisted on Boston's last night (it's either a spinoff of Boston Pizza or used to be a Boston Pizza - either way it was pretty slim pickings for me) and I had oven baked wings and a grilled chicken cobb salad. Not the greatest at 13g carbs but there was no steak on the menu, which is normally my go-to!
Wings work amazingly well when they are available, assuming that you can get them with no sauces involved. They are what I default to anytime someone I am around wants to order pizza. They're almost perfectly 50/50 split between fat and protein as calorie sources.0 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »my husband insisted on Boston's last night (it's either a spinoff of Boston Pizza or used to be a Boston Pizza - either way it was pretty slim pickings for me) and I had oven baked wings and a grilled chicken cobb salad. Not the greatest at 13g carbs but there was no steak on the menu, which is normally my go-to!
Wings work amazingly well when they are available, assuming that you can get them with no sauces involved. They are what I default to anytime someone I am around wants to order pizza. They're almost perfectly 50/50 split between fat and protein as calorie sources.
Yeah, that's why I ate the wings, needed more fat since the chicken on the salad was grilled breast (blech). Unfortunately they were 1g carb per wing I assume due to the sauce but I only ate 4. And with my recent tries at higher carb dinners I guess it isn't the end of the world, either. Honestly the irritation is that my husband has used this vacation as his liberty to veer completely off plan and seems determined to try to drag me with him.0 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »my husband insisted on Boston's last night (it's either a spinoff of Boston Pizza or used to be a Boston Pizza - either way it was pretty slim pickings for me) and I had oven baked wings and a grilled chicken cobb salad. Not the greatest at 13g carbs but there was no steak on the menu, which is normally my go-to!
Wings work amazingly well when they are available, assuming that you can get them with no sauces involved. They are what I default to anytime someone I am around wants to order pizza. They're almost perfectly 50/50 split between fat and protein as calorie sources.
Yeah, that's why I ate the wings, needed more fat since the chicken on the salad was grilled breast (blech). Unfortunately they were 1g carb per wing I assume due to the sauce but I only ate 4. And with my recent tries at higher carb dinners I guess it isn't the end of the world, either. Honestly the irritation is that my husband has used this vacation as his liberty to veer completely off plan and seems determined to try to drag me with him.
Ouch. Fortunately, the only real vacation I ever went on was with an ex who was a competitive powerlifter, so she was just as adamant about staying on course as I was.0 -
The Mexican places I go to have either chicken or steak with mixed veggies and cheese. I get that and sub guacamole for rice. Or the fajitas...however I dislike onions and usually end up getting them anyhow when I ask for them to be left off so I don't get them often.
Other places I go I get steaks, side salads with no onion or crouton and ranch, steamed veggies, fish without breadings, chicken wings, cobb salads, bunless burgers, burrito bowls without the rice or beans, and breakfast stuff like eggs, sausage, and bacon. As long as they have meat, cheese, or eggs I can make something work!
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Caesar salad is one of my favorite go tos. Burgers without the buns, steaks, veggies, fajitas w/ cilantro and sour cream, there's a place I go to for local Mexican where I actually ate their salsa with a spoon, bc it's so good.1
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Much like everyone else - steak, pork chops and burgers. My side is always a Caesar salad. Most other sides are either carb filled or veggies I don't care for.0
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Lots of good advice here already so I'll just add to the list:
Red Robin - Lettuce wrapped burger of your choice, broccoli as a side (I think it's unlimited broccoli, just like the fries are unlimited)
Jimmy Johns - Unwich, any sub you want lettuce wrapped. You can double the meat or cheese. The gargantuan is my favorite when I'm super hungry.
Chipotle - Salad with burrito fillings, no dressing (no idea what's in it). Steak, chicken, guac, sour cream and a little salsa if you want it. You can double the meat if you need a protein boost.
Taco Bell - You can order "sides" and combine them to create a salad. Two sides of lettuce, a side of beef, a side of chicken, a side of sour cream, cheese and guac. Mix and match as you please.
Any steakhouse - Plain steak with butter and veggies. Stay away from pulled pork or ribs, those sauces are sugary.
Old Spaghetti Factory - Watch out for this place. The meatballs have breading in them. The only low carb friendly dish according to MFP is their broccoli with marzcapone cheese. It's delicious but it's the only thing I can have there. Even the salads are iffy and very high in calories.
Cheesecake factory - Cobb salad seemed ok nutrition wise but it looked like they pulsed it in a blender. They will also sub tortilla chips for veggies for an extra $2 if you want the spinach dip appetizer. They have a low carb cheesecake but I've never had it so I can't vouch for the taste.1 -
Ruby Tuesday offers something called Texas Dusted ribs, which "only" clock in at 13g carbs for a full rack. All of the others are sugarsnot covered though.Any steakhouse - Plain steak with butter and veggies. Stay away from pulled pork or ribs, those sauces are sugary.
Full Rack TD: 1023 kcal, 69g fat, 13g carbs, 88g protein, 1939mg sodium.0 -
At Mexican restaurants when I'm eating on plan (I have to specify, because Mexican restaurants are my biggest weakness) I love to order queso flameado with chicken, skip the tortillas, but I don't know if there's anything higher carb in there. It's not in the descriptions, but you never know. I also like to order dinners that consist of chicken breast or steak with various toppings and sides. The safest option is probably what you had--fajitas without tortillas. But isn't it really all pretty much the same? Extra guacamole and sour cream are necessities.
At other restaurants I just search for whatever meats are not breaded and order them with vegetables or salad instead of whatever carby sides they usually come with. Fast food is usually a burger without the bun or a salad with meats, easy on the salad.
I always skip bread products when I'm eating on plan, including croutons, tortilla strips, whatever. 0 -
Meat and veggies
Simple things I know.
No Breading and no creamy sauces
But butter for sure!0 -
Eating out is so much easier now! This is the first woe that has made me feel free to be more social. Like everyone else, I stick with steak and a side of non-starchy veg, which is available at most dinner restaurants. Lunch can sometimes be more complicated, if there isn't a salad that works, I either get a bunless burger or eat the inside of a sandwich. Breakfast of course is super easy... Bacon and eggs! Chinese food is probably the most challenging and I do avoid it like the plague, especially since it used to be my go-to comfort food. But if I'm stuck with it, I get a meat and veg dish and ask for no sauce, then I go home and lick some butter lol.1
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On my recent trip to Ruby Tuesday I had 2 mini burgers without buns or ketchup, had the spaghetti squash instead of fries, and made a carb friendly salad off of the salad bar.0
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Steak and salad , chicken wings in buffalo sauce, Greek salad with extra feta and olives topped with chicken or shrimp. That's a few of my "go to" meals when I'm out lately. I've done the burger with no bun a few times but my hubby always pokes fun when I do that.1
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On my recent trip to Ruby Tuesday I had 2 mini burgers without buns or ketchup, had the spaghetti squash instead of fries, and made a carb friendly salad off of the salad bar.
I've always found their spaghetti squash to be utterly disgusting. I knew someone had to like it though, because they've been making it for years. I've always been more a fan of their grilled zucchini. The net carb counts are pretty similar between the two though, so it's pretty balanced in that area (3g on the zucchini vs 4g on the squash).0 -
PamamaJane wrote: »Steak is my go-to if it's on the menu. And I'll drench it in real butter. Steamed veggies for a side. I try to stay away from salads since the dressings are usually full of sugars. Burgers are sometimes a safe bet. Toss the bun, of course and ask to make sure the burger doesn't have carb laden fillers. Fish if it isn't breaded. Pork chops if they aren't breaded. Any restaurant that serves breakfast all day will have bacon and eggs, just don't get the toast or hash browns.
If I am being super careful about this, I will ask for oil & vinegar on the side and put it on myself with salt & pepper.
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I always choose steak if it's an option! Or prime rib. Unless I am at a seafood restaurant, then crab legs and butter!!! Yum! If neither are available I go for the bunless bacon cheese burger.
If ordering from a pizza place, I go with naked wings and just add my own hot sauce at home.
I don't eat much fast foods so that usually don't come up but bunless burger would be my pick.
Breakfast of course is super easy...eggs sunny side up with bacon.
And I get Subway's spicy italian chopped salad occasionally0 -
Kitnthecat wrote: »Almost always have a bacon cheeseburger without the bun, or steak and veggies with butter
This is my go to also but w/o the cheese, do ask for extra pickles--- it's super to eat out & enjoy, request double veggies, extra butter and salt your food.....as for alcohol, I have found champagne or/and Prosecco with 1 carb per 5 ounce serving.
At any Asian restaurant, from this blog and the Reddit blog, I learned to order, "no sugar, no flour and no cornstarch" ---- still delicious with the spices & oils.1 -
At any Asian restaurant, from this blog and the Reddit blog, I learned to order, "no sugar, no flour and no cornstarch" ---- still delicious with the spices & oils.
I love eating Asian as it's the easiest for me, I order the same above, and add prawns, or fresh mushrooms and chicken (it's a specialty of an Asian buffet I frequent). Even if the prawns are battered I have been known to take a whole plate of them, pull off the breading and then eat all the prawns on top of my beef & broccoli, lol. Oh yeah, ask for sesame oil and chili garlic sauce to top stuff off.
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Salmon and broccoli, steak and steamed veggies, fajita salad without the bowl, bunless burger with cheese, grilled chicken, etc.0
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Gallowmere1984 wrote: »
Ruby Tuesday offers something called Texas Dusted ribs, which "only" clock in at 13g carbs for a full rack. All of the others are sugarsnot covered though.Any steakhouse - Plain steak with butter and veggies. Stay away from pulled pork or ribs, those sauces are sugary.
Full Rack TD: 1023 kcal, 69g fat, 13g carbs, 88g protein, 1939mg sodium.
"Sugarsnot" is the name of my new band.2 -
Wherever I go to eat, I almost always make sure they have salads. I love salads that have iceberg lettuce mostly in them as that is practically no carbs at all and great to munch on and fill yourself up. Mexican places I don't go to too much, but when I do, I always try to order a bulk of my meal as a high fat meat and veggies with no rice or beans or breaded sides. Salsa is nice but it's easy to rack up sodium and carbs as tomatoes are higher carb. But yea salads are usually my go to for low carb and to keep it fun I always try to order a salad that has variety in it and not just chicken and veggies.1
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Speaking of restaurants...
What in tarnation?
http://www.startribune.com/taco-bell-is-going-national-with-fried-chicken-taco-shell/410415965/0 -
ShanBanKrup wrote: »Salsa is nice but it's easy to rack up sodium and carbs as tomatoes are higher carb... .
If you're doing keto, sodium is your best friend!!3 -
Speaking of restaurants...
What in tarnation?
http://www.startribune.com/taco-bell-is-going-national-with-fried-chicken-taco-shell/410415965/
Is it organic?1
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