Going out to eat

Buttsmom

The first time I went out to eat, I wasn't prepared at all and went way over my calories, last time I looked at the menu on line and went prepared so I didn't go over. Tonight we are taking the 5 teenage boys out for a Christmas dinner. I looked and the restaurant has an online menu, but no nutritional information for any of their food. I'm starting to dread going because I have no idea what to order. They have steak, shrimp, chicken, ribs, salads, wraps and burgers. Without exercising I'm done to about 500 calories left for the day. (Lunch is my big meal of the day and I forgot we were going out tonight) Any suggestions on what I should order and how I will record it in my diary?

Here's the menu if anyone cares to look at it. http://luckiesbarnandgrill.com/?page_id=11

ArchyJill

Holy crap! I would pick a different restaurant. If that's not possible I would go with the sirloin and tell them to hold the marinated mushrooms (LOADED with butter, I am sure), get a baked potato, and a salad with dressing on the side. You'll probably still go over but at least it will be healthier stuff. Oh yeah, you should try asking them not to drench the steak with salt and butter too. Good luck!

Edit: If you order whole foods when eating out (as above) it is much easier to enter into your diary, you just have to look up sirloin, potato, salad, etc.

michelleinpa

I think I would either have the Grilled Chicken Salad (probably half of it) with some fat free dressing - or get a grilled chicken breast(hold the sauce) and the mixed veggies

kjensen15

Don't be afraid to ask the waiter/waitress for nutritional facts or be very specific when you order. Order something grilled and do steamed veggies or a salad leave off any cheese or croutons and ask for the dressing on the side.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you tonight. My husband is wanting to go out to eat (no idea where) and then meet some friends for drinks after their Christmas parties! It creates a little anxiety for me!!!

LOVEsummer

I would go with the grilled chicken salad Fat Free French dressing and no croutons. It may still be a little over but if you ask for the chicken to be grilled using no butter or oil that will help too

meggonkgonk

I would get one of the chicken sandwiches grilled (the plain or italian look like your best bet) with veg on the side and eat 1/2 the sandwich. I find at most places the entrees that "seem" harmless cal wise are about 1000-1200 cals so I almost always eat about 1/2 of whatever I order. If you've already had your big meal, 1/2 sandwich should be fine to keep you full.

reesepieces

1/4 or 1/2 of the grilled chicken salad with fat free dressing is what I would do.

Ely82010

The first time I went out to eat, I wasn't prepared at all and went way over my calories, last time I looked at the menu on line and went prepared so I didn't go over. Tonight we are taking the 5 teenage boys out for a Christmas dinner. I looked and the restaurant has an online menu, but no nutritional information for any of their food. I'm starting to dread going because I have no idea what to order. They have steak, shrimp, chicken, ribs, salads, wraps and burgers. Without exercising I'm done to about 500 calories left for the day. (Lunch is my big meal of the day and I forgot we were going out tonight) Any suggestions on what I should order and how I will record it in my diary?

Here's the menu if anyone cares to look at it. http://luckiesbarnandgrill.com/?page_id=11

Good luck and I feel for you because I am in the same boat when I go out for dinner. Big anxiety attack.

I also found out that unless a restaurant is located in 5 or more locations they have no obligation to have nutritional values entered in their menu. At least that seems to be the law in California, but I would not be surprised if the same rules applies to other states. It would be interesting to Google it.

4lafz

Most restaurants will prepare something to order. Get a grilled chicken breast and lots of steamed veggies!

MisdemeanorM

First of all - how often do you go out to eat and what was the last time you went way over your calories? If the answer was not within the last week to two weeks - give yourself a little slack. Not to say go hog wild, but a break every now and then is OK (also, think ahead - do you have more big family meals or holiday parties coming up you would rather "spend" your splurge on?)

Then, if anything, find a restaurant you find similar. Ie, is it Outbacky type food? Hard if you have not been there before. You can always stipulate things like you want things seared not grilled (searing is w/out the butter) or grilled LIGHT on the butter/oil. If you get veggies, be sure you spell it out like a kindergardener that you want the veggies NOT done up in butter or grilled in tons of oil.

And then, eat just 1/2 of it.

You'll be fine.

PS, if you get a sandwich, be sure to say toasted or seared bun / bread, so that they don't put 100 calories of butter on each side when they grill it.

Buttsmom

Thank you all, with your help I was able to make some good choices and stay under on my calories. ( picked generic on a few things since the Rest. wasn't on the list) I had a salad which was just lettuce with the dressing on the side, I ordered a plain grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies. I love this places dinner roll, so I had to indulge and eat that, after that I ate my veggies and only a 1/4 of my chicken, I was full and I always save some of the meat I order for my dogs anyways.

As to how often, normally not often, but this month it has been every weekend with different people for the holidays. The last time I went way over was about a month ago, I'm slowly learning.

MisdemeanorM

off topic... what kind of dog in your ticker? I have a black lab colored just like that. He's a total mutt, but there's apparently some strong St B somewhere in his background! He's the breed coloring to a T!

Buttsmom

off topic... what kind of dog in your ticker? I have a black lab colored just like that. He's a total mutt, but there's apparently some strong St B somewhere in his background! He's the breed coloring to a T!

aint Ber

That is Goober, my 11 week old Saint Bernard. I also have 2 more Saint Bernards, Tub 4 yrs old- Goober was his Christmas present, and Butt 8 yrs old.

reesepieces

How did you come up with the names of the dogs?

Buttsmom

How did you come up with the names of the dogs?

I got Butt as an older dog, he came with the name Max. As soon as he walked in the door he became my shadow and every time I stopped he would run into my butt, so I started calling him Butt and it stuck. When I bought him a new puppy for his 4th Christmas I noticed the puppy did every thing backwards from him, so he became backwards but, Tub:) Living with Saints you get a lot of goobers all over, so John said the next one we ever got was going to be Goober, so when Tub got his puppy for his 4th Christmas there was no discussion of his name.