Going out to eat

acaldwell3590

These past few weeks have started those times where my work friends and family go out to eat...a lot. Most of the time I can make it work when it is to a fast food place (many have sandwiches that are pretty decently low cal) but it's those sit-down restaurants that get me. You try to get what you think may be the lowest, even when you try to do the research you can hardly find anything under 700 calories in many places. How do you guys handle this?

jemhh

Grilled meat and a salad. The vast majority of sit-down restaurants have something like that on the menu. Even if the meat choices are normally covered with cheese or sauce, you can ask them to hold those things (assuming you want them to.) Same goes for anything you don't want on the salad.

goingtobefit2015

I usually get a large salad w/ grilled veggies and a cup of charro beans. Or I get a tostada w/out the cheese and add pico! Baked potato or sweet potato with very little butter and a salad. I mostly go out to Mexican Restaurants. Also, I look at the website before I go if I know in advance!

k_nelson_24

I always order as lean of a protein as I can get. Most places have grilled chicken on the menu. I also get some type of steamed vegetable on the side. and when all else fails, a salad with a vinaigrette-based dressing or a broth-based soup is a decent option. I feel like the safest options while eating out is to go as low carb an you can. That's just my opinion, though!

The number one tip that has helped me is to google the menu BEFORE going to the restaurant. Be prepared. And don't be afraid to ask for substitutions! Even when going to a hibachi joint I will request no rice and to add extra veggies.

k_nelson_24

And I agree with asking for things on the side. If a meat has bbq, cheese, etc on it, I will ask for it on the side.

cwolfman13

Restaurant portions tend to be about two meals...so eat half.

OhMsDiva

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Restaurant portions tend to be about two meals...so eat half.

That part

callyhockey

I either make it my only food for the day if i know im going out, or im also commonly the weirdo that will go to be social but doesnt actually order anything but water

Francl27

I don't eat out unless I have over 700 calories to spare at this point. I see no point in spending $15 or more for grilled meat and steamed veggies (that's when they don't add a ton of butter to them too).

Otherwise, yeah, I do what people advised - grilled meat and veggies, sauce on the side, eat half, etc. When I go out for lunch I typically have a small dinner though.