Eating Out and Not Feeling Guilty

tealgrove

I have a group of friends that I get together with every couple of months and we choose nice little restaurants to go to. We socialize, catch up and have a lovely time. I wouldn't miss it for anything.

Today we all met up at a lovely little bed and breakfast to do our Christmas Get Together. We went last year and I had the most wonderful smoked trout salad so when we all agreed to visit the same place this year I was sure I would find something on the menu that would work for my meal plan.

Holy Smokes was I wrong.

This place is very nice and the food is exceptional however they have a VERY small menu. After wading through my choices I was actually left with picking the best of a bad lot and believe me I had to work to pick that. I managed to get the waitress to adjust a few things. There was actually NO lunch salad. At the end of the day I ordered a grilled vegetable crepe that was covered with creamed leeks and a side salad that I managed to get added to my meal. It was lovely. It really was ; but my goodness, the guilt over eating this creamy crepe is really bothering me. Then dessert came and I recall vividly that I had sorbet and fruit last year. Not this year, not a fruit to be found.

I ordered some peppermint tea and that was that.

I don't like to make a big deal over what I eat in public and it wasn't anyone's fault, but I feel like I got sideswiped today.

What do others do when the menu just doesn't offer anything that works for your meal plan?

Ready2Rock206

Sounds like you don't eat out often and you enjoy the time with your friends. Don't worry about it - one meal won't harm you. Make the best choice you can or think of it as a "cheat" day. Think of the 80/20 plan - if 80% of the time you're making good choices - don't sweat the 20% when things don't go as well as you'd like. You should never feel guilty over an occasional delicious yet not so low-calorie meal with great company.

SharonNehring

Like you, I try to make the best of a less than ideal situation by trying to select the healthiest options. We were traveling last week and ate out almost every day. I ate healthy for the meals I had control of and tried my best with the rest. I kept reminding myself that this was only for a few days and I'd get back to my schedule once I got back home.

My best suggestion is to try to find the restaurant menu online and plan ahead but I know that's not always practical or even an option. I'm new to this too and am required to eat low carb. Just learning what are safer foods to have in general is helping me make better selections when out.

acpgee

I just had a 1140 kcal Indian lunch with friends today. Just do a big cardio workout to cancel it.

Sreneesa

I have a group of friends that I get together with every couple of months and we choose nice little restaurants to go to. We socialize, catch up and have a lovely time. I wouldn't miss it for anything.

Today we all met up at a lovely little bed and breakfast to do our Christmas Get Together. We went last year and I had the most wonderful smoked trout salad so when we all agreed to visit the same place this year I was sure I would find something on the menu that would work for my meal plan.

Holy Smokes was I wrong.

This place is very nice and the food is exceptional however they have a VERY small menu. After wading through my choices I was actually left with picking the best of a bad lot and believe me I had to work to pick that. I managed to get the waitress to adjust a few things. There was actually NO lunch salad. At the end of the day I ordered a grilled vegetable crepe that was covered with creamed leeks and a side salad that I managed to get added to my meal. It was lovely. It really was ; but my goodness, the guilt over eating this creamy crepe is really bothering me. Then dessert came and I recall vividly that I had sorbet and fruit last year. Not this year, not a fruit to be found.

I ordered some peppermint tea and that was that.

I don't like to make a big deal over what I eat in public and it wasn't anyone's fault, but I feel like I got sideswiped today.

What do others do when the menu just doesn't offer anything that works for your meal plan?

I so feel you. Went Christmas day out with my daughter to get something to eat.

After combing the menu and them not having tabasco, lol,, I just sat there and drink lemon water.

My daughter was mad at me at first, but I was like I'm not willing to eat up dang near a days worth of calories for this. And they had no tabasco for the low cal meal I did settle for...so... I didn't eat. lol...

Definitely a challenge for me when going again.

JesterMFP

Once every couple of months? I'd order what I really like the look of, and enjoy the hell out of it. Getting healthy does not have to stop you living your life with a bit of enjoyment. Your success with losing/maintaining weight will not be derailed by those meals (what, 6 a year?) that you have with your friends. It's how you eat on a daily basis that matters, not the odd occasions.

JesterMFP

It was lovely. It really was ; but my goodness, the guilt over eating this creamy crepe is really bothering me.

I'd also suggest that feeling genuine guilt over eating food is not an appropriate, or healthy, response. It's not uncommon, but it's not healthy.

twixlepennie

I eat out like 3-4 times a week. Pick something that sounds reasonable and don't stress out about it. One higher calorie meal once in a while isn't going to make or break you And I agree with other poster-you should not be feeling guilt about this, especially since you made solid choices with the options that were given to you. Food/eating should not have emotions attached to them.