What meal do you buy when you have to eat out?

AdGalicia
AdGalicia Posts: 84 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Wednesday I'll have to pick up something to eat cause I will not be home and I am already dreading the thought. I normally do subway but I have noticed that I always choose the wrong sandwich (sodium too high). Any suggestions?
«1

Replies

  • babymine55
    babymine55 Posts: 127 Member
    If its fast food...I go to Taco Bell and order off there fresco style menu. If its a sit down restraunt, I stick with the salads and have my dressing put on the side.

    Good luck. :)
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    Are you not able to pack something that you can eat instead of being forced to eat out?

    If forced, my go to would be the Asian Chicken salad from Togo's. It's around 200 cal, 400 sodium, and a good amount of protein.

    If Subway is your option, stick to the oven roasted chicken breast and load it up with veggies but skip the cheese and sauces. That's the lowest sodium meat option.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    As you said subway. I normally get a salad with every one of the salads, double sweet onion chicken terikyaki meat & chilli sauce.

    I give no fark for sodium :tongue:
  • Lumett
    Lumett Posts: 29 Member
    If it's just a random meal out with my girlfriend or something like maybe once a week I don't care I eat what the hell I like, usually a big massive 10oz burger with onion rings, cheese bacon and barbecue sauce, it's like a once off once a week so who cares lol, what's the point in all this healthy eating and exercise and stuff if you can't allow yourself to stuff your face once in a while :D

    If it's a one off pal don't worry about it :)
  • AdGalicia
    AdGalicia Posts: 84 Member
    I plan on picking up something fast foody, so we'll see but I might have time for a sit down restaurant too...idk
    I'm just worried. I'd like to see results weekly and I think everything matters...
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Chipotle burrito bol with:

    Double chicken, white rice, black beans, lettuce, cheese, hot salsa.

    Approx macros:
    Calories 795 Sodium 0 mg
    Total Fat 26 g Potassium 0 mg
    Saturated 0 g Total Carbs 60 g
    Polyunsaturated 0 g Dietary Fiber 0 g
    Monounsaturated 0 g Sugars 0 g
    Trans 0 g Protein 84 g
    Cholesterol 0 mg
  • FireBrand80
    FireBrand80 Posts: 378 Member
    Wendy's Baconator
  • nygrl4evr
    nygrl4evr Posts: 196 Member
    If picking up fast food I ususally go for a veggie sub on wheat with light mayo at Subways. Pack on the veggies!!

    If I am not too hungry and want a change I sometimes get a side salad w/light dressing at Wendy's with a 5 piece chicken nuggets, no sauce.

    With either meal I just drink water.

    If you have time to sit down then go someplace and get a nice salad, I like to do that if I can. Especially with it still warm enough to get salads with berries in them, yum!
  • DaNae9402
    DaNae9402 Posts: 61 Member
    Taco Bell has some good options as mentioned before. Many places offer Grilled Chicken Sandwiches and salads. Wendy's and Chick-Fil-A have good options too. You can make Japanese work with vegetables and chicken or shrimp if you have a drive thru one like we do.
  • wlkumpf
    wlkumpf Posts: 241 Member
    last time we had a sit down meal I had a mixed fajita and at lots and lots of salsa and vegies on one tortilla :) I love peppers and onioins ayway

    I go to McDs and order their southwest salad.

    I get a turkey pesto wrap at FAzolis. TRy to eat about 1/2 and take 1/2 home.

    turkey and ham on honey oat at subway no cheese, no mayo.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    Something chicken. usually.....feel free to look at my diary for examples....There are lots.
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    I usually do a veggie delite from Subway. I have not really noticed the sodium, but I don't worry a great deal about sodium since I very rarely eat processed foods and my sodium is always under my limit. I will also sometimes do Taco Bell, either a Cantina Bowl, or fresco tostadas. Or anywhere that I can get a salad, though I don't eat meat so it is hard to find a quick to go salad that does not have meat.
  • goodeater24
    goodeater24 Posts: 41 Member
    You can get a salad with protein at Subways. It's a pretty good size. For fast food - carls jr. and in-and-out burger have burgers that come wrapped in lettuce. Also, most markets sell cooked chicken breasts in their deli section. Just check the ingredients. Some markets have salad bars that include different kinds of protein.

    At a sit down, I almost always order a salad with chicken or turkey, or an omlette.
  • heliumheels
    heliumheels Posts: 241 Member
    I steer clear of fast food. When I am taking college night classes, I will usually just bring dinner with me and eat it on my break.
  • sugboog29
    sugboog29 Posts: 630 Member
    If I'm going Mexican I get chicken fajita's fixed with no oil and tell them to keep the tortillas and ask for extra pico de gallo! If it's seafood I either do shrimp or tuna (if it's available). I don't do fast foods but if I had to I would choose Subway and do the veggie sandwich. My husband and I eat lunch out every week day (he refuses to pack a lunch) and I have found that I make much smarter choices than I used to . Salads are always great...lots of veggies and you can add chicken/shrimp for protein! And of course the dressing on the side...only dipping my fork in it. Good luck.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I'm also wondering if maybe you could pack something instead of buying. Put together a sandwich with some fruit and veggies and you'll probably save yourself some calories and tons of sodium.

    If not - my usual go to is Subway as well. I usually get a turkey sub with pepperjack cheese, no dressing and most of the veggies.

    If you have Panera nearby, they have some awesome salads. I had their Thai Chicken a couple of weeks ago and it was yummy and very filling.
  • giantangryrobot
    giantangryrobot Posts: 3 Member
    I get a burrito bowl at Chipotle - no tortilla, black beans, rice, salsa, lettuce, roasted veggies, and depending on how I'm doing on calories for the day, maybe a bit of sour cream. I tend to eat vegetarian but a bit of meat probably wouldn't hurt.
  • sportyredhead01
    sportyredhead01 Posts: 482 Member
    If I'm out I always look for a chicken salad of some sort. I love the ones with walnuts and apples. Dressing on the side of course.

    Also I'm a big fan of the Subway Veggie Delight. I mix up my own tuna with light mayo, keep it on ice and add that for protein since I'm not a huge fan of theirs.

    Grilled chicken sandwiches are a good bet too without the sauces.

    Now I'm starving...haha :tongue:
  • TheCrimsonCountess
    TheCrimsonCountess Posts: 11
    If I'm going to an actual restaurant I usually order whatever I want, since thats once a once or twice a month thing. If I'm picking up something fast on the way home, I like to stop at the grocery store and pick up a ready-made rotisserie chicken. Just as fast as fast food.
  • Lina4Lina
    Lina4Lina Posts: 712 Member
    I try to go Chipotle if possible, otherwise it depends on the restaurant.
  • wolfpack77
    wolfpack77 Posts: 655
    Chinese buffet. Because they usually have a good selection of lean meats, fish and fruits and veggies. And sushi. Yumm! Just stay away from the fried or saucy stuff.
  • 1SlimShaylee
    1SlimShaylee Posts: 204
    salmon filet, grilled chicken sandwhich, steak, a huge salad with fat free dressing or a vinagerette, or sushi. like others have mentioned don't buy anything that is breaded or deep fried. and those salad bowls from cafe rio, chiptole, or costa vida with no tortilla are great!
  • WilliamsPeggy
    WilliamsPeggy Posts: 440 Member
    Subway: Tuna salad on lettuce instead of bread. Add jalapenos, tomatoes, & onion. Yum. You're doing the right thing by planning ahead. Good luck! :smile:
  • clairyfairy247
    clairyfairy247 Posts: 425 Member
    Chinese: chop suey, steamed anything, boiled rice, soup, dumplings
    Indian: tandoori or madras with chicken, prawns or vegetables, plain rice and chapatti
    Kebabs: shish kebab with pitta bread and salad, grilled burgers made from lean fish or meat (beef or whole chicken breast) and without cheese and mayonnaise
    Italian: small or medium pizza with a thin base and vegetable or lean meat topping, tomato-based pasta sauces, bruschetta

    AVOID THE FOLLOWING:

    Chinese: sweet and sour battered pork balls with special or egg fried rice, prawn toast, spring rolls
    Indian: any creamy curries such as korma, passanda or masala with pilau rice, naan, bhajis, pakoras and poppadoms
    Kebabs: large doner kebab with mayonnaise and no salad, burgers with cheese and mayonnaise, thin-cut chips, chicken or fish patties deep fried in batter
    Italian: large deep-pan pizzas, pizzas with the crust stuffed with cheese, triple cheese with pepperoni pizzas, creamy pasta sauces, garlic bread

    sucks the fun out of it a bit :ohwell: if it's a rare occurrence, a little bit of what you fancy won't hurt too much! :tongue:
  • zCarsAndCaloriesz
    zCarsAndCaloriesz Posts: 348
    Are you not able to pack something that you can eat instead of being forced to eat out?

    If forced, my go to would be the Asian Chicken salad from Togo's. It's around 200 cal, 400 sodium, and a good amount of protein.

    If Subway is your option, stick to the oven roasted chicken breast and load it up with veggies but skip the cheese and sauces. That's the lowest sodium meat option.

    I don't know about where you are located, but here Subway also does salads, their cheap and big too.
    Cuts out the sodium problem if you pick the right dressing, or even bring one with you.
  • heytherestephy
    heytherestephy Posts: 356 Member
    Fastfood I would usually do subway, 12" veggie on 9 grain or honey oat, no cheese, no sauce, just veggies and salt & pepper :)
  • KarenLamyman
    KarenLamyman Posts: 18
    standard pub - hunters chicken (chicken, bacon, barbeque sauce & cheese with chips and salad)
    gorgeous.

    but on regualr nights I'm very good.
  • joecollins9385
    joecollins9385 Posts: 355 Member
    i eat out several times a week. fast food for lunch usually consists of zaxby's salad or subway sandwich (flatbread oven roasted chicken spinach tomato cucumber jalapeno and sweet onion sauce), when i go to sit down restaurants i always get a salad with either chicken, seafood, or a steak and some other veggie for a side. as long as i exercise hard and make good choices for my breakfast and snacks then my lunch and dinner can be pretty much whatever i want
  • unlocke
    unlocke Posts: 149
    Most all fast food places have salads or grilled chicken sandwiches. You just have to be careful with the sodium content, & with the kinds of dressings, bread, etc. you get.
    If you must have a burger, get a small, plain burger with mustard only, load up on veggies (lettuce & tomato & onions) and get a side salad instead of fries. Maybe take the top half of the bun off to cut extra calories.
    Oh yeah, and drink water instead of soda.
    Taco bell does have the fresco menu with lower calorie options, but the sodium is through the roof.
    Subway is a good option & the suggestions on here are great, but an added step you can take is to have them scoop out some of the inside of the bread before making the sandwich. Load up on veggies & you'll never miss it.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    If you are near a Panera Bread.. most of their salads are between 400-600 calories, and that's WITH the dressings. A bit high in sodium (again the dressing is mostly to blame) but there's a good bit of protein in most of them, and a reasonable amount of fat for "fast food". They are a good size, and always really fresh in my experience.
    http://www.paneranutrition.com/

Categories