Restaurant pre planning - advice?

sarah_jones3
sarah_jones3 Posts: 59
edited January 7 in Food and Nutrition
Morning all,

My partner and I are going to my favorite Japanese restaurant Teri Aki's (http://www.teri-aki.co.uk/Teri-Aki-Main-Menu-Oct-12.pdf) on Saturday and I know the portions in most dishes are big enough to feed two people. Problem is I don't go there often so when we do I tend to order more than I probably should... eg

Karaage Bentobox - ( contains - miso soup, salad, rice, fried chicken) this one is portioned well which is why I like it though the fried chicken is not a great choice.

Cucumber Sushi - 6 pieces per serving

Sweet Potato Tempura - - 6 pieces per serving

Goza - (pork dumplings fried) - 6 pieces per serving

Green tea


Needless to say this would probably wipe out my calories for the day, O_o I want to be prepared and know what I want to order before I get there and go mad as per normal.

Can any one spot anything that is relatively low in calories?? or have any advice? I don't get to go out for food often but when I do its normally here.

I was thinking rather than main meals, perhaps I should go for one or two starters??

Replies

  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,160 Member
    I see from your order you are probably now crazy about raw fish, so this might not be relevant for you. Just be aware that sushi rice is made with quite a bit of sugar. For that reason I try to go for sashimi and plain rice rather than sushi.

    Have some edamame beans to start to curb your hunger.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,160 Member
    I would also try to removed the fried items (the chicken and tempura) and replace them with something grilled. Or at least leave the chicken skin on the plate.
  • msbunnie68
    msbunnie68 Posts: 1,894 Member
    How large is the bento box serving? If it is dinner size then the bento is all you need...

    if it is the lunch size then choose the bento and ONE other of your favourites or 2 of them if your husband will go halves with you on those two dishes.

    That is a lot of food :D
  • SomeoneSomeplace
    SomeoneSomeplace Posts: 1,094 Member
    It's just one day.

    It's a special day with your partner

    It's your favorite place

    Just enjoy it and get back on track tomorrow

    Maybe run an extra mile or two of do an extra tough lifting session the day of/the day after. One day of a calorie surplus, even a crazy one won't derail your progress, as long as it isn't a habit!
  • sarah_jones3
    sarah_jones3 Posts: 59
    Thanks guys,

    The Bento is lunch sized, and the edamame beans I love them but they cake them in salt, so I avoid them, I have asked for them without salt but they never seem to listen.

    I am not a fish fan so tend to go for veg sushi if I have it,

    I think I agree bento plus 1 well picked side (not fried) and like SomeoneSomepl said its one day, so extra exercise with Jillian Michaels I think :happy:
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    I eat sushi probably once a week at least. Unless its a day that I'm just going all out, I get vegetable rolls and vegetable tempura. 4 rolls plus the tempura is only about 600 calories and fills me up good. I know everything on the menu looks amazing, but I'm too cheap to get the fancy rolls all the time.
  • Codefox
    Codefox Posts: 309 Member
    Just don't order everything every time you go.
  • Bobby__Clerici
    Bobby__Clerici Posts: 741 Member
    I take an "either or" approach.
    Nothing is more maddening than being in a fabulous restaurant and ordering something I don't want.
    My solution comes in 2 forms:
    1. crazy amounts of exercise to offset the meal or ...
    2. just go, eat, enjoy and call it "free day".
    And hats off to you folks with the discipline to enjoy yourself within the scope of your diet.
    You're a better person than I....:drinker:
  • Absonthebrain
    Absonthebrain Posts: 587 Member
    I would start with the Miso Shiru

    One serving of MISO SHIRU provides (approximately):
    40 calories (2%), 6 grams carbohydrates (2%), 4.3 grams dietary fiber (17%), 1.9 grams protein, 0.6 grams fat, 0 % cholesterol, 1% Vitamin A, 20% vitamin C, 10 % potassium, 17 % sodium, and 1% calcium.
  • JustLindaLou
    JustLindaLou Posts: 376 Member
    Favorite restaurant and you get to eat there rarely? Have what you like! Split those appetizers with your love - I'd rather have just 3 pieces of something I love than none at all. On the other hand, eating until I am stuffed takes away from the enjoyment as well! It is ONE MEAL - keep it light the rest of the day, a little extra cardio, LOTS of water to offset the sodium, and stay on track in the days surrounding this special day. Good for you for studying the menu ahead of time, that will help you make good choices and be less inclined to just order everything. Enjoy your meal, it all sounds lovely!
  • rfsatar
    rfsatar Posts: 599 Member
    It's just one day.

    It's a special day with your partner

    It's your favorite place

    Just enjoy it and get back on track tomorrow

    Maybe run an extra mile or two of do an extra tough lifting session the day of/the day after. One day of a calorie surplus, even a crazy one won't derail your progress, as long as it isn't a habit!
    This... and where is this place? Is it a chain or just a regional thing (also in UK)

    ETA: Never mind - Cambridge and not a chain. Sadz.
  • gdrmuzak
    gdrmuzak Posts: 103 Member
    When restaurant dining at my fav places (Fridays, Red Robin, Famous Daves, Mongo BBQ), I preplan by checking their website for nutrition and I'll also make sure I plan in a good workout somewhere and adjust my other meals around the eatout.
  • murphinchina
    murphinchina Posts: 72
    Don't like fish, how about shrimp? Even tempura packs in the protein with lower fat. They usually have lean cuts of meat at Japanese restaurants too. They do cake the outside of edamame in salt. I don't know about you, but I don't eat the outside. ;)

    As to the poster who said sushi is made with a lot of sugar... um, did you mean salt? I live in China, and there are tons of Japanese restaurants here (we're geographically close to Japan in my city) and I make sushi at home. Don't know anyone who uses even a pinch of sugar in their sushi. Usually the fish is "cured" (not really the right word) in salt then rinsed and served. The rice is just sticky rice... rice steamed in extra water to give it a stickier consistency.

    We have great all you can eat Japanese places here... now that I'm on MFP, I'll be sticking to the shrimp, sushi, garlic beef and clams! Oh yum! Why don't you try something new... and healthy, of course? Best of luck to you!
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,160 Member
    If you read the recipe in the classic cookbook

    Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art • By Shizuo Tsuji

    you can see that sushi rice is dressed in vinegar where quite a lot of sugar has been dissolved. You actually need to heat the vinegar to dissolve that amount of sugar.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    Just don't order everything every time you go.

    Yep.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories