What would you do?

kristie874

Okay, so I'm going to Macaroni Grill for dinner tonight and I was checking out their nutrition information online. Not surprisingly, most of their meals are between 1,000-1,500 calories each. OUCH! Not to mention the salad and super yummy bread that comes BEFORE the meal. They have some healthier options that are 500-700 calories but they're things like grilled halibut with sides of asparagus and broccoli. Now...here's what I'm trying to decide...the healthier option is something I could easily make at home and it's not something that I would crave and want to go out for. Because it's lighter I know I'll eat the whole thing. The bad options (90% of the yummmyyyyy menu) are really bad BUT...I know that I'll only be able to eat about half of the dish, making it about the same number of calories as the healthier option... I'll figure out what I want to do by the time I get there and see the menu but I'm curious...what would you do?

kristie874

Okay, so I'm going to Macaroni Grill for dinner tonight and I was checking out their nutrition information online. Not surprisingly, most of their meals are between 1,000-1,500 calories each. OUCH! Not to mention the salad and super yummy bread that comes BEFORE the meal. They have some healthier options that are 500-700 calories but they're things like grilled halibut with sides of asparagus and broccoli. Now...here's what I'm trying to decide...the healthier option is something I could easily make at home and it's not something that I would crave and want to go out for. Because it's lighter I know I'll eat the whole thing. The bad options (90% of the yummmyyyyy menu) are really bad BUT...I know that I'll only be able to eat about half of the dish, making it about the same number of calories as the healthier option... I'll figure out what I want to do by the time I get there and see the menu but I'm curious...what would you do?

little_wolfie

I have a really hard time only eating half of a meal, it's almost impossible for me to do it. I'd probably order a low-cal meal because of that, but that's just me.

Thanks for bringing this up - I think we're going out tonight too and I have to think about what I'm going to eat!

Shannon023

I would order whatever sounded the best to me and try not to snarf down the entire meal. :embarassed:

nightangelstars

Hmm. Well, personally, I like to think that going out to eat is also taking a break from my diet, so I typically will eat whatever looks the best to me. I can almost never finish a restaurant dish and I don't expect to anyway, and I figure splurging once in a while if I've been good is a kind of self-reward, and not going to throw me too far off track. If I couldn't eat my favorite foods once in a while I would never stick with it anyway! :laugh:

MrsTomy

Get a to-go box RIGHT when you get your meal. Go ahead and split the meal in 1/2 and ONLY eat the 1/2 left on your plate! That way you can "cheat" by eating something yummy and indulge a bit...but you will still be okay on calories! :drinker:

quinnybear

i would choose one of the "bad" options and not eat all of it. think of it this way, you only go out to eat once in a while (i know we only go out for special occasions/date nights) so why not splurge a little? plus, if you're going to be spending money on food, might as well spend it on something you can't make at home.

Wolfena

I would order whatever sounded the best to me and try not to snarf down the entire meal. :embarassed:

My thoughts exactly... and then I'd go home and feel guilty! :embarassed:

heather0mc

Get a to-go box RIGHT when you get your meal. Go ahead and split the meal in 1/2 and ONLY eat the 1/2 left on your plate! That way you can "cheat" by eating something yummy and indulge a bit...but you will still be okay on calories! :drinker:

great idea. :drinker:

no need to be too worried - one splurge isnt going to be tooooo bad. just make up for it over the rest of the weekend and do not feel guilty.

MattySparky

I would just eat what you want and work your butt of after burning off the extra cals.

SoupNazi

I would order whatever sounded the best to me and try not to snarf down the entire meal. :embarassed:

Yup! Split in half and have a great time.:drinker:

Dustdevil

I have battled with my eating habits for a very long time. When I go out to eat, I have to plan what I am going to eat ahead of time, or be with people that are aware of my fitness goals now. My wife and I usually Split a healthy meal.

Today's restaurants a serving is more than enough for two people. Some places it could feed three easily.

Good luck.

If I were to eat the whole meal of what ever I thought looked good, it would be a guilt that would be a setback of several days for me.

rosabella

I feel awkward asking for a to-go box right when I get my food, yes I know I should just get over it but...

If I'm going with someone I'm comfortable with (your significant other or a good friend), I simply announce when I get the food that I only need to eat half of it. Saying it out loud makes it SO much easier to do once I've finished half of the yummy bad food and the other half is staring at me.

If I'm out with people I'm not so comfy with I might say "Oh, wow, look at all of this! I'll have to get a to-go box!" and right there divide up the food into two portions... I usually feel bad about finishing the second half if I've already said it's a lot of food. Good luck!

LuckyLeprechaun

I felt weird asking waitresses for a to-go box right off the bat, until I started saying it differently: now I say, Oh wow, look at all that food! I am gonna enjoy this again later- Can I get a box when you have a chance? Then just begin eating normally. Chances are the waitress will be back with the box long before you have eaten first half, and then you can portion out the part for later. You don't HAVE to put the first half away before you even take a bite

If I don't get a box, I end up eating about 2/3, then thinking , well, there isn't enough there for another meal, so I better just eat it now.....

you can see how that's dangerous.
:flowerforyou:

Coach2010

Well...If I'm to be honest, I would never ask you to do something I wouldn't do; therefore,
I would probably do my best to focus my efforts on the salad and water (yeah...I'd be work'n the bread), try not to eat more than half of my meal, and then plan to work out afterward...or first thing in the Morning :laugh:

My thought is, enjoy your meal, don't over-think the calories, and enjoy your company, as you've achieved great success with your dieting efforts!

Celebrare :drinker:

douganl

Get a to-go box RIGHT when you get your meal. Go ahead and split the meal in 1/2 and ONLY eat the 1/2 left on your plate! That way you can "cheat" by eating something yummy and indulge a bit...but you will still be okay on calories! :drinker:

This is a great idea they mentioned on the news this morning! You can have them box up half of your dinner before it even gets to your table. But I always think when you go out to dinner you should enjoy yourself...maybe eat a litte lighter the next day and up the cardio a little. Have fun!