What do your order & where?

DanaMThompson

I LOVE to go out with friends to eat, the only problem is that it leaves me available to hidden calories. I was hoping I could get some suggestions from members. I am already skipping the soda, cheese, and cream sauces. Any other suggestions, tips, or tricks?

Chenoachem

Choose places that have calorie information online. Then pick out what you are going to have before you go out.

Aimee_PD

I used to love going out to eat too. until i got serious about dieting. i find that the meals with the lowest calories are stuff that i can make at home and i end up paying way more for it! not worth it to me..Chili's has the guilt free chioces which i think are like under 600 cals but its boring. i figure if im going out to eat im going to enjoy it and have it not be something i can whip up myself! :-) but choices like fresh veggies of course are better than fries and get something without any sauce or dressing or fried...

Amber030583

My Fiance' loves Buffalo Wild Wings so we end up going there a lot. My safe meal is BBQ Chicken Bacon Sandwich and a side salad. With a Diet Coke.

Kind of a splurge but not too bad on the calories.

Leannek74

I order what I really want but only eat half. Portion control goes along way for me! At fast food places I order from the kids menu. :happy:

TropicalKitty

I generally ask for veggies plain. Often places add butter and salty spices to steamed veggies.

Also, I order my steak just put on the flat top without the oil and seasoning. But I like the taste of meat, not the extras! haha

Sugar hides in a lot of stuff too - like low fat salad dressings. Especially the "asian" style dressings. I'm thinking along the lines of things with names like Artisan Orange Sesame Asian Salad.

If you're curious about some of this stuff and want to read a book, check out Dr. Kessler's "The End of Overeating in America" he talks about the crazy stuff restaraunts do to food.

bhonniered

I go out to lunch most work days and I find that thouroughly researching the place we go helps me to make better choices than if I go in blind. I tend to choose 2 or 3 items that I might order and then when I get there I make a decision :-). The challenge is the places that don't have information online :-( Good luck!

TaneeisFitforLife

Wherever we go, I make sure there is nutritional info & a menu online. I pre-plan going out & ask them to bring out a take home container with my meal.

darrenw74

Steamed veggies
salads, ask for dressing on the side
fruit medley sides

Avoid stir frys, or anything deep fried.

If you are going to drink, a rum and diet coke has a very small amount of calories.

Another tip is eating something right before you go out. That way you can just "graze" on healthy sides, etc.

dmgaloha

Skip the bread basket.
Start with a garden salad, dressing on the side.
Order a dish with a protein as the base (chicken, fish, steak) and add a side of veggies instead of potato or pasta.

Like Sapphira said, it sometimes ruins the 'yum' part of the eating out mentality, but you will still be able to enjoy your meals knowing that you're doing something great for yourself!

bethvandenberg

I find chili a good choice, salads with dressing on the side no cheese, grilled chicken, grilled fish, steamed veggies, some wraps plain with maybe the sauce on the side.

It's hard but not so much for me these days as we haven't been out to eat in forever.

My downfall for sure is mexican food, Then I try and go with the fajitas and just eat the meat and veggies.

Good luck with your choices.

bethrs

Veggie burgers. I know, I know, you can make 'em at home, but it's fun to go out sometimes. I'm a vegetarian, so sometimes it's a bit easier for me.

At BWW- its' 250 calories. The side salad is 200 calories so you can come in at under 500- even if you add some medium sauce yourself.

At Dennys I eat- 2 orders of egg whites, whole wheat pancakes, hashbrowns, with syrup (not the whole tub, mind you) you can get in and out for less than 750 calories.

At O'charleys and the like- the lunch portion of salmon (often ordered without butter/sauce, etc.), side salad and broccoli- more calories, but not terrible (under a 1,000 usually eaten when I have worked my tail off).

Go for veggie toppings on pizza's (and portion control.)
Sometimes asking for a box in advance will help you scoop the excess food out of your line of sight and so you don't talk yourself into eating more than you would like to.

Put your fork down in between bites and enjoy a drink of water for each bite taken. Pace your self with apps like chips and dips- If I'm watching TV in the restaurant (like a ball game) I will eat a chip every time someone makes a TD or a first down, or every two goals in basketball, etc.

If the menu looks horrid and there is really nothing that seems like it will work, ask them to combine somethings you see- make your own meal from sides, request something baked instead of fried, or just ask for the server's help and then tip them well when they cooperate.

Just do your homework and you will find what works for you, and even if you wind up splurging every once in a while, it's okay- that's life.

HTH.

lukasmac

Let's remember not to be afraid of treating yourself every now and again...

Just remember, if you are going to go over your usually daily intake of your diet, work it off before or after. Don't let the Nutrition Facts control you... you control it by laughing in its face and saying 'Haha! I can devour you becos I prepared ahead of time by working out!'

...or something to that effect


enjoy

heathersmilez

The super low-fat and incredibly delicious menu of items <500 cals by Rose Riesman at Pickle Barrel is delicious. I've had the beef with baby bok choy and salmon with walnut and maple glaze. It’s too bad Pickle Barrel however doesn't have a lot of class, most locations have the quality staff and attentive service as a fast food joint so what’s the point.

+1 on the looking online before you arrive at the restaurant.

brownsugar84

Ditto for Rose Reisman's section on the Pickle Barrel menu - I love the grilled sirloin steak, as well as the sun dried tomato burger with goat cheese!!