Eating out

Totally. I know my family loves me, but I definitely bring the mood down by asking a bazillion questions about what's in the food to the waiter OR by not eating much. When you get a plain salad, it makes everyone else feel fat and guilty. NOT something I want to do to my family!

My tip: Get settled in, and excuse yourself to the restroom but instead go and ask someone that works there specific questions about the menu so you're not holding up the table. This way, they can tell you the healthiest options and you can have your order down when the waitress comes!

There's lots of talk about eating healthy when eating out, but some restaurants make it easier than others. When you say your family, I'm wondering if you mean you, your hubby and kids, or extended family. If it's the former, then, since you're the mom, you should be setting an example for healthy eating (which involves cutting back on eating out). If the latter, then there are quite a few choices. Here's a few:
*Study the nutritional chart before you go, or call ahead during non-busy hours to ask about the menu choices.
*If you are going for supper, eat a hearty lunch. Then you can truthfully say you had a big lunch and aren't very hungry.
*Order as healthfully as you can, and when the waiter brings it to the table, ask immediately for a take-out box, and put half the meal in it to bring home.
*See if someone else is willing to split a meal with you.
*Order a child's plate.
*Eat a banana or drink a glass of milk before going, to curb your appetite.
*Talk to the family about having potlucks at each others' homes instead of eating out so often.
*Suggest, instead of a big meal out, to gather at a local frozen yogurt place for a lo-cal dessert, or bring take-out food to a park where you can finish the meal with a brisk walk.

If weight loss is really something you're serious about, you can't maintain the status quo. But who knows, you might inspire other family members with your determination to get healthier!

My family eats out ALL THE TIME! Since I live 4 hours away it's not such a problem anymore, however now when I do see them it's always a guarantee that I will be going out to eat with them so this is what I do - If I have any say in where we go, I vote for places I know will have healthier options, If I don't then I find out where we're going and try to check out the menu online before we go. I look through the entire thing and decide what I want and make a plan to stick to that. If they serve bread I avoid it by trying to get a salad or healthy appetizer to munch on. Then I avoid desert by picking off other peoples plates! lol or drinking coffee...

I eat out like once a week..decide a place, search online for nutritional menu. If it's a local place and you can't find one, just make better choices. Chicken,, veggies, salad dressing on side, no cream sauces, etc etc. You can still go out and eat ok. But I would say eating out constantly can't be good for the wallet or waist!