How do you handle work dinners while on a diet?

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  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,302 Member
    Interesting.

    hors d’œuvres is not in the vocab here at all - people might know what it means and even read it on menus occasionally but never heard anyone say it.

    entree never means main meal here - had not heard of that usage until this thread.
  • TanyaHooton
    TanyaHooton Posts: 249 Member
    Sounds like you ended up at a pizza place anyway. Two slices of pizza is 500-700 calories, usually, depending on the toppings, so that's all right.

    Some good tips have already been mentioned, but one of mine is to cut the meal in half and take half home. That way I get to order the 1200 calorie dish but enjoy it twice.

    I find it hard to keep my hands out of the bread basket, so I'll try passing it around to get it away from me. I order water or unsweetened tea instead of a drink, and if I order dessert, I'll have just a bite or two and then take it home for my husband. If anyone asks, I'll say, "Oh, I have an early morning tomorrow!" And indeed I do - getting an extra walk in to burn off some of those excess calories.

    Personally, I always feel better when I see someone else turn down or carefully apportion food at work meals. Means I am not alone in being health-conscious and at least one other person is not judging me for it.
  • hansep0012
    hansep0012 Posts: 385 Member
    A couple of strategies that work for me in both business and personal dining:
    • Be a hero and be the DD (designated driver) - not only does everyone get home safely but the "no drink for me" becomes a positive spin
    • If the menu is not to your liking ask your server to modify (and be flexible about paying more), for example I've asked for the chef salad to not have processed meat (ham, turkey, etc.) but rather grilled chicken, no cheese but extra veggies (green pepper, cucumber, etc.) - and if there is no offering of "lite" dressing I ask for oil & vinegar on the side
    • Specifically engage in conversation with a new person because the effort it takes can totally distract me from eating
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    sirloin steak is usually pretty lean and fairly low calorie with approximate weight listed on menu (easy to estimate and decide how much to save in a takeout box for another meal (or 2)). Grilled chicken will be pretty hit or miss (requires more skill by the cook to make it not suck without an added sauce while even lean steak is usually pretty idiot proof). Typically will be at least 1 vegetable option for the side that isn't that bad - you may want to ask that they put any butter/etc on the side (sometimes the otherwise low cal veggies can otherwise come drowning in it).

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