Making good choices at resteraunts?

Jadesfattorment

When you guys go out to eat how do you know whether something is going to be high calorie and healthy by reading the menu? I need some tips.

PNOIZE

most restaurants offer a nutrition guide. ask the server or anyone that works at the restaurant for a copy. applebees and Black Angus for example have nutrition guide.

caroliiine86

you can look on the website of the restaurant before leaving, many restaurants have their nutritional guide on their website.

girlnamedlee

I try to check the restaurant's website for nutrition information before I go out so I'm not preoccupied with it or ordering something that is worse for me than I thought it would be. If you're going to a restaurant that doesn't have nutrition facts online, order carefully (like sauces & condiments on the side, you tend to put way less on than they would in the kitchen. I also ask for my salads without egg, cheese, bacon or croutons), pick grilled items over fried or "sauteed" which is usually cooked in fat.

KandieLantz

If you find yourself at a restaurant without nutritional information available, ask questions..... ask how something is prepared... make requests... sauces on the side, etc... I eat in restaurants daily while traveling for work... which is almost all the time... and I find I do ok if I go for basic, meat and veggies.. no sauces, etc... unfortunately, the sodium is still almost always high.. so double up on the water!

MikeSEA

If they don't have nutrition information available in the restaurant and you don't have an opportunity to see if it's available online before you go:

-Try to stick to leaner meats. Skinless chicken is a good choice, as is fish usually. Sirloin is relatively lean for steak.

-Watch out for cream-based or cheesy sauces. I think they're delicious, and you can probably make them at home without going overboard, but they're almost always terrible for you at a restaurant.

-If portion sizes are an issue, ask them to box up half before bringing it to the table. It's a reasonable request and happens more often than you might think.

-If you like desserts, see if they have a fresh fruit/berry or sorbet option.

-Take a careful look at the menu. If they don't have all the nutrition information available, lots of restaurants will mark lower calorie or low fat/sodium options with different icons.

skinnylove00

get the salad with the dressing on the side. and try not not use the dressing.

Bunnybeesweet

avoid anything "crispy" - that usually means deep-fried! ask for veggies that have been steamed instead.

Buddhasmiracle

All of the above, and check out the appetizers. Most restaurants will accomodate a request for an appetizer as the main meal, with steamed veggies on the side.

WanderingMe

Like an above poster said, avoid anything crispy, order all sauces on the sides...

You can also ask the waiter to box up half your meal before they bring it to you


Im sorry that doesnt exactly answer your question...

cmeade20

If I can't find the nutrition info online I usually stick to something like chicken soup or a basic salad (not a crazy one with bacon or taco shell or something) with italian dressing on the side. Then I know I didn't go overboard. I also like getting sirloin steak (they usuall tell you the ounces on the menu) at resteraunts with veggies for sides

dorothea23

thank you for the advice i didn't know resteraunts had nutrition guides. make sure to drink plenty of water before heading to
restraunts.dorthea23

CuteAndCurvy83

I try to look at the menu before hand, however most of the time when we actually go out to eat, I'll use it as my "cheat meal"

brittanylock09

When you guys go out to eat how do you know whether something is going to be high calorie and healthy by reading the menu? I need some tips.

I typically look up nutritional info online at the restaurant. I look up what I like and what I should get. If it's a spontaneous thing, look for words like grilled and charred. steamed, fresh... ask for no butter, no extra salt, etc. also, you could always take some time and look up all your fav restaurants and make a list of the foods that you would like. make sure you include add ons like cheese, extra meat, etc. hope this helps

feb06momma

I really try to look online at the restaurant's menu before going out and knowing what my options are. Planning ahead really sets me up for success!

kyle4jem

The only choice I make when eating out is, "what do I think I will like/enjoy the most?"

For me, I don't look at a menu and think, how many calories... that's what I do every day at home. Going out should be a time to relax, kick back, enjoy and savour.

Too few folks on MFP when discussing food ever mentions how good things taste and when they do, it's almost said as if it's some kind of guilty pleasure.

Foods only become "unhealthy" when they are abused. We all need salt and fat and carbs in our diet, but when you eat nothing but salty, fatty, high-carb foods, every meal, day in, day out that you might start to see the side effects which could compromise your well-being. But enjoying a creamy curry or a side of onion rings on an occasional meal out, why beat yourself up about it!

So, if you've been invited out to a restaurant, go and enjoy yourself and the only thing you should worry about it is... who's paying