How do you eat sensibly when you go out?

sharmigurmi

One of the biggest weight loss challenges I face is eating out. Since I'm a foodie, eating out is something I can't fully give up. But I've managed to limit it to the weekends -- Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. However, all the hard work I put in during the week -- of eating low calorie healthy foods -- is undone during the weekends. Has anyone faced a similar challenge? What are sensible food choices while eating out? I live in India, but I mostly eat Italian, Chinese or Indian food when I go out. And yes, pizza is my weakness. And I only stick to white meat. I'd appreciate any suggestion. Thanks in advance.

lunaephiliac

lentils fill you up super fast and are really high in fiber and protein. dal is your friend!
watch out for yellow egg noodles and the sauces on italian and chinese foods, they can be really high fat. As far as italian, try to avoid cream-based sauces and tons of pasta.

supertracylynn

Create your own dish and ask for different ingredients you see on the menu.

For example: steamed veggies covered in the house marinara sauce with grilled chicken on top.

tameko2

I just eat less of what I want. Also I try to avoid pastas which are just a huge pile of pasta in fat - a pasta with veggies and meat mixed in will be a better ratio overall.

And generally avoid fried foods, the oil adds a lot of calories.

Kaycurrier

Well, i know it is hard, but eating out two or three days in a row will almost alwas undo your week, it is best to do it once a week or at least space it out better, not three consecutive days.

Salads are good but often times the cheese, meat, and dressing that are added are almost the same as eating an entree

try splitting your meal into two potions, box half up immediately before eating that way you are not tempted to eat the whole plate

order whole grains and brown rice, wheat pastas or crusts instead of white because it makes your body work harder to process it, therefore buring more calories

order an apatizer instead of a meal, my husband and I usually order a small side salad and split an apatizer or entree

drink lots of water and try to order low sodium, eating out can pack on the water weight not just the fat

eat fiber or veggies before meat or carbs, hopefully you will want to eat less because the fiber adn veggies is filling

I eat activia light yogurt (70 calories) before eating big meals it makes me so full that I only eat a little, so i get to enjoy it but not over do it

good luck!

it_be_asin

More veggies, less carb heavy foods and selecting vegan (rather than vegetarian) dishes are my usual workarounds for eating out. And if it is possible to find a place with published counts, I will go with those places and those counts.

ETA: Whoops, forgot to add I am normally vegetarian! Eating vegetarian dishes with cheesy and creamy sauces can be a way to eat a lot of fat and calories if you are not careful, hence the vegan thing.

ninerbuff

Split the entree with your SO or a friend.

hannydee

Choose whichever food you want off the menu. No point in depriving yourself of what you crave. My tip? Eat SLOWLY, listen to your body, and stop when you're full.

ljbhill

I'm the same! I make sure I go for a run in the morning and try to make my plans for lunch (instead of dinner so I can have a light dinner) or an early dinner (with a light lunch). Sometimes it's brunch or lunner.

I usually get a salad to bulk up the meal (dressing on the side) and steer clear of pastas. I usually opt for grilled/baked/BBQ foods.

In asian cuisine I order thai beef salad or Chicken Chow Mein. If I want rice, I order it boiled with prawns in oyster sauce or BBQ pork.

Pizza? I love. I make my own! Failing that, I order the gluten free ones or vegetarian!

Hope this helps

pandabear_

It's bad, but I'll have breakfast, exercise, have a very small meal maybe 100 calories. Then go out to eat, so I have a least 800 calories to spare.

Eating out is so difficult on a diet!

sharmigurmi

Thank you for your advice. You're right, I should probably limit eating out to once a week. Will keep your other suggestions in mind as well.

sharmigurmi

Well, i know it is hard, but eating out two or three days in a row will almost alwas undo your week, it is best to do it once a week or at least space it out better, not three consecutive days.

Salads are good but often times the cheese, meat, and dressing that are added are almost the same as eating an entree

try splitting your meal into two potions, box half up immediately before eating that way you are not tempted to eat the whole plate

order whole grains and brown rice, wheat pastas or crusts instead of white because it makes your body work harder to process it, therefore buring more calories

order an apatizer instead of a meal, my husband and I usually order a small side salad and split an apatizer or entree

drink lots of water and try to order low sodium, eating out can pack on the water weight not just the fat

eat fiber or veggies before meat or carbs, hopefully you will want to eat less because the fiber adn veggies is filling

I eat activia light yogurt (70 calories) before eating big meals it makes me so full that I only eat a little, so i get to enjoy it but not over do it

good luck!

Thank you for your advice. You're right, I should probably limit eating out to once a week. Will keep your other suggestions in mind as well.

sharmigurmi

I'm the same! I make sure I go for a run in the morning and try to make my plans for lunch (instead of dinner so I can have a light dinner) or an early dinner (with a light lunch). Sometimes it's brunch or lunner.

I usually get a salad to bulk up the meal (dressing on the side) and steer clear of pastas. I usually opt for grilled/baked/BBQ foods.

In asian cuisine I order thai beef salad or Chicken Chow Mein. If I want rice, I order it boiled with prawns in oyster sauce or BBQ pork.

Pizza? I love. I make my own! Failing that, I order the gluten free ones or vegetarian!

Hope this helps

Thank you for all your tips. Yeah, it makes sense to work out the next day. Are vegetarian pizzas better than non-veg ones? Because I almost always eat vegetarian ones.

medoria

I plan ahead. Knowing Ill eat out on saturday Im very strict with my eating the entire rest of the week so I can indulge fully and really enjoy the meal. I avoid bread, try to drink a lot of water to fill up, and eat more of the proteins like meat or chicken.
I allow myself to still eat out even if Im on a diet cuz I dont want to have to skip out on life just so I can ge thin faster, I still want to live life to the fullest!

melsinct

Portion control
Portion control
Portion control

For instance- I just ate at one of my favorite restaurants the other day- an Indian place where it is Fat City with all of the ghee and sauces. I ate small portions of the sauced dishes, a moderate portion of the lean Tandoori grilled meat, and loaded up on the vegetables.

At my favorite Thai restaurant, I estimate my favorite dish is about 1,000 calories. Even though I want to suck the whole thing down, I only eat half and bring home the other half for another meal.

jfinnivan

I usually eat half of my food, and take the rest home for lunch the next day.

mrmanmeat

One of the biggest weight loss challenges I face is eating out. Since I'm a foodie, eating out is something I can't fully give up. But I've managed to limit it to the weekends -- Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. However, all the hard work I put in during the week -- of eating low calorie healthy foods -- is undone during the weekends. Has anyone faced a similar challenge? What are sensible food choices while eating out? I live in India, but I mostly eat Italian, Chinese or Indian food when I go out. And yes, pizza is my weakness. And I only stick to white meat. I'd appreciate any suggestion. Thanks in advance.

I really don't understand how people have a problem going out to eat.

1) if the portions are huge, don't eat all of it. Ask for a box WHEN you order the meal. As soon as the meal comes, put half of it in the box and don't touch it.

2) don't order a dinner entree. Try something from the lunch menu.

3) drink water and don't order alcohol before your food arrives.

You're shooting yourself in the foot if you work hard throughout the week to just undo yourself on the weekends. Stop wasting your energy, burn through out the week and make sensible choices on the weekends and you wont be wasting

Acg67

Personally i indulge when i go out, if i'm paying for a nice meal i'm getting my money's worth. I don't try and pick out "healthy" things i just order what i want to eat. Conservatively i had about a 6k-7k meal over the weekend at a restaurant. the next day i'm back on track

www.leangains.com/2010/11/cheat-day-strategies-for-hedonist.html

juscallmeb

I tend to drink a lot of water so when I go out i make sure i drink the same amount as if I were eating at home.
I also stop and look at what I eat while i'm eating it and I tend to eat slow anyways as it is.

however, i do have my moments where i just indulge and not pay attention at all.

millionsofpeaches

I always scope out the menu in advance so I don't get side tracked at the restaurant... I pick what I am going to eat and stick to it!

lorjill

If available I check the menu and nutritional info online, and make a decision before I get there.

londoneye

This sounds counterintuitive but it WORKS. Rather than starving yourself and saving every extra calorie all day, eat normally and have a small healthy snack before going out. When you are delirious from hunger you have NO chance in controlling yourself in a restaurant situation. If you're mildly hungry you can resist the bread basket, order sensibly, and limit your portions.

gsager

Its all about portion control. I'm sure that you have heard this a million times and if you can go with someone that you could split food with it would help with the portions.....it really just depends on how badly you want to lose weight. Good Luck.

CrimsonHellkite

well i usualy opt for the more healthy foods on the menu, or try to, i still splurge and eat things that arent great for you but try goin for the vegatable option instead of fries or if you want a potatoe go with a sweet potato, ill try and pick the salmon w/ steam veggies, or the grilled chicken w/ corn or greens, and get a side salad with dressing on the side instead of the soup. well thats all i can think of hope this helps ya some. ^_^

WildFlower7

I think eating out all together is bad whenn ur dieting. But good job with limiting it to the weekends. You have to start somewhere. If I have to eat out I avoid any sort of bread bun or tortilla (flavorless calories) for instance if I eat at del taco I order 3 chicken soft tacos...no tortillas...all on a plate. Its like a salad and tastes exactly the same as the taco. I don't miss the tortilla at all. I avoid the junk (fries, onion rings anything and everything fried) id rather use my calories on something useful like a grilled chicken breast with a slice of melted cheese and I never order dessert or drink I bring water wherever I go.