What Do You Eat When You're Out To Eat?

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Replies

  • it's usually pretty safe to get the simplest thing on the menu (like a plain burger or regular hot dog)

    they might be somewhat high in calories but better than most of the other things on the menus (baked goods and salads REALLY add calories at restaurants...) (unless the salad is mainly vegetables and little dressing of course)
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Burgers can be part of a healthy diet. Eat up!

    maybe homemade but from a resteraunt not so much

    It depends on the restaurant. Ground beef is ground beef is ground beef. There is not unhealthy about it. The difference is the toppings.
  • futureflaka
    futureflaka Posts: 72 Member
    a lot of people misunderstand what the word diet means. the term "diet" refers to what you eat. whether that is 10,000 calories worth of donuts or 15 calories worth of lettuce. both are the persons diet.

    so yes, losing wait is about diet, but not in the sense that most people use the word.

    di·et
    /ˈdī-it/
    Noun

    The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.

    took the words out of my mouth! Enjoy your burger as long as it doesn't happen everyday, you will be fine. Also like many have said before sub fries for fruit or salad or even soup...no cheese mayo or creamy/sugary sauces and you will be A-ok!

    edit: when i eat out i just get what i want. we dont eat out that often so when i do i make the most of it.
  • Verla7
    Verla7 Posts: 32 Member
    I plan ahead, If I know I am going out to dinner, I look and see how many calories I will be using for dinner and plan (budget calories) my other meals accordingly
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    1) You CAN give up a burger for something better. No amount of advice is going to help you with the attitude that you can't give this up.
    2) Don't trade in for a salad unless you actually, in fact, LIKE the salad. Salads really aren't that much lower in calorie than most entrees.
    3) Focus on dishes that most heavily feature protein and veggies.

    Your best bet is to get to know the offerings of the restaurants you frequent most and find dishes you like that roughly fit your macros. I have a basic dish for pizza, chinese, sushi, Applebees, diner, Chipotle etc So when I do go out on a whim I have something to fall back on that's within my control. I tend to save my big splurges for things planned in advance- date night once in a while, or a particular celebration, and will choose something that goes over my macros without much concern in these cases.

    It's all about research and planning.
  • WrenStory
    WrenStory Posts: 103
    I go for whatever I want, and usually it fits within my macros. Going out to eat should be fun, provided you don't do it every single night... well, actually you could do it every night but you'd probably have to watch it very carefully.

    I tend to go for sushi, chinese, italian or indian.
  • Toya2xcel
    Toya2xcel Posts: 107 Member
    The other day I went out to eat with friends and everyone else got burgers and fries. I got salmon, with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh veggies and only ate half the meal and it was a little under 500 calories.The funny thing is everybody with the burgers and fries kept commenting on how good my food looked and it was!

    I guess if you really like burgers you could just cut it in half and take the rest home.
  • katy84o
    katy84o Posts: 744 Member
    If it's not often that you eat out, eat the burger and leave off the cheese and condiments. You could also take the top half of the bun off and just leave it on the plate.

    You could also eat a piece of grilled fish with vegetable sides. And for the sides: get vegetables that are either steamed, roasted, or grilled. Leave off the fried sides.
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    Some places, including Red Robin, will do a lettuce bun instead of bread that takes a LOT of the calories out of the burger. You can probably also just order the burger bunless and use a knife and fork to eat it. Leave off mayo, and you trim another significant chunk of calories. You CAN eat burgers and stay within your calorie limit. Just not ALL the burgers. :-D
  • markpmc
    markpmc Posts: 240 Member
    IIFYM

    Last night (Mom's bday dinner) @ Longhorn I had ...

    2 pc bread & butter
    8 oz Rancher Sirloin (comes w/ 2 pieces bacon and 1 egg!!)
    1/2 order of fries
    green beans.

    skipped the dinner salad for the green beans.
  • mwbulechek
    mwbulechek Posts: 162 Member
    I eat out a lot! I have found healthier options at every restaurant I have been to. Grilled or baked chicken and fish are good options Also lean sirloin steak is a good one. If I am having fast food I stay with grilled chicken or salad.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member

    3) Focus on dishes that most heavily feature protein and veggies.

    Yes, like burgers and fries. :flowerforyou:
  • quishajuice
    quishajuice Posts: 106 Member
    I rarely go for the salad because restaraunt salads suck. I usually go for something similar to what I eat ate home with veggies and not a lot of bells and whistles in the ingredients. Nothing creamy or fried.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    If I'm trying to lose weight? I eat the burger, no bun.
    Or find a chicken caesar salad.
    The rest of the time I just skip the french fries.

    Or I order a steak and veggies
    or chicken and veggies.

    I stay away from the pastas and pizzas in most restaurants.

    we eat at asian restaurants a lot, so then I get sushi. Or meat/broccoli.

    Basically, I avoid sauces and breads when I eat out lol.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Small steak, fish, grilled shrimp, sushi, fish tacos, chicken sandwiches, and yeah, sometimes a burger or pizza.
  • OnionMomma
    OnionMomma Posts: 938 Member
    I believe what she means is, it's not about dieting, it's about changing your habits and your lifestyle for the rest of your life.

    If you don't plan on giving up burgers forever, don't give them up now. Try fitting them into your calorie goal, or eating it without the bun. Another option is to sub salad for the fries.

    Thank you for coming to my rescue while I was off line.

    I cannot live in a world when I don't permit myself to eat pizza, ice cream and such things. I used to eat them all of the time!! I don't do that now. I have them every now and then and I don't think I've hard really ice cream but maybe 3 times since May. I eat frozen yogurt.