Whadda ya do when faced with eating out?

plumptastic
plumptastic Posts: 7 Member
edited January 27 in Motivation and Support
I'm very lucky to have my job cuz I get to try lots of amazing stuff for free, including fancy shmancy meals out. I eat out a whole lot, and while most of the time I have some sort of choice about what I eat, there are times that I don't.

I do quite a few restaurant reviews, and many times I'm just given what the restaurant wants to give me. Surely enough-fat-to-sustain-an-army paté, cheese-smothered chicken, one-million-calorie chocolate fondant and a full English cheeseboard can't be that bad? Ha. Goodbye healthy eating plan.

I know all of us are faced with a tempting restaurant menu every now and again. Does anyone have any tips or miraculous ways to avoid ruining an otherwise healthy day? Is it rude to eat at a restaurant and only have a few bites of things? Would you just stop eating out altogether?

How do you get around the trials of restaurant food????

Replies

  • hammbone55
    hammbone55 Posts: 73 Member
    If you have to eat out you have to eat out. Maybe try requesting that things aren't cooked in butter or oil. Completely remove cheese. Maybe ask for a side salad first or a brothy soup to fill you up and then just take the meal to go. :) Just a suggestion.
  • supermysza
    supermysza Posts: 167 Member
    Look for things that remind you of what you'd cook at home. Things like grilled chicken or fish, salads etc. Ask for the food to be steamed/grilled instead of fried. If there is a sauce or dressing to go with the meal ask for it on the side. The dressing is usually the calorie "trap" of a seemingly low calorie salad. Get vegetables/rice instead of chips. Basically, pick the lighter option for everything.

    I found that there rarely is a small portion available in restaurants so from the start I tell myself I will only eat half of what is put in front of me (unless it's salad). That way you can still eat whatever you order but won't overeat. If you don't like wasting food you could find a buddy and order one meal between the two of you.

    It's also usually a good idea to skip either the starter or dessert. Most places serve fruit and ice cream as a dessert which is not as bad as a cake but still yum :)
  • SkinnyMsFitness
    SkinnyMsFitness Posts: 389 Member
    I simply eat what I want, but in MUCH smaller proportions. Listen to your gut; when you 'feel' full, quit eating. Maybe make a few healthier choices. But I never deprive myself. lol Good luck!!
  • karenertl
    karenertl Posts: 271 Member
    If you have to eat out you have to eat out. Maybe try requesting that things aren't cooked in butter or oil. Completely remove cheese. Maybe ask for a side salad first or a brothy soup to fill you up and then just take the meal to go. :) Just a suggestion.

    This is definitely a great idea. I've ordered side salads or garden salads more times than I feel like counting. Granted, French fries are my down fall, but I try to work my day around them. When I know I'm going to be going out to eat, I do try to plan my day accordingly so I can at least try not to sabotage my efforts. My other meals aren't quite so big. I might snack between meals or drink extra water to feel more full before hand.
  • SurfyFriend
    SurfyFriend Posts: 362 Member
    I usually try to eat some fruit beforehand or on the way and drink water as reading the menu. By the time I order I am not starving and sane enough to make healthy choices.
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
    I'm lucky to have a partner who exercises loads and eats loads- whilst still staying skinny. I give him half my meal,before I start, and order a mixed salad to fill me up. As a veggie in a rural area, I generally havevveryblittle choice on the menu and its usually smothered in cheese.
  • LonLB
    LonLB Posts: 1,126 Member
    It CAN be difficult. There are choices that appear healthy that end up being absolutely terrible.


    I figure anything extra smothered/covered etc is just adding extra calories I don't won't.


    The biggest thing may be the portion size. I went to applebees for lunch on Monday and thought for sure it would be horrible, but after logging it wasn't that bad. But the portions were small too.



    The one place that I LOVE and it is hard or impossible to log and some stuff i know is terrible is the local REAL Mexican restaurant.
  • bokodasu
    bokodasu Posts: 629 Member
    Tom Sietsema is a superawesome food critic and he has been known to dump salt all over a delicious dessert to keep from having more than a few bites of it. He also exercises regularly and keeps a tight rein on his home cooking. Oh, and he always brings people out with him so everyone can order different things and all try a bite, rather than him having tons of food at every restaurant.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    With the large portions they usually serve, I end up eating half and taking the rest home to make another meal out of it.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    Don't stress it. Instead of looking at a "day" and thinking you've blown a day, think a little wider than that. If your most recent 3 or 4 day average (including the restaurant meal) looks good, you've done no harm by indulging. 1000 cals mon, 2500 cals tues and 1000 cals weds is the same as 1500 mon, 1500 tues, 1500 weds.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    I'd have a few bites. Tough though. But if you're going to review the restaurant, shouldn't you be able to pick what you want to try? That's kinda messed up!
  • Siegel15
    Siegel15 Posts: 100 Member
    Salad salad salad and then followed by salad. That's all I can ever do.

    LOVE the idea of dumping salt on the desert so you won't eat it!
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    I usually let him dive right in.
  • calibriintx
    calibriintx Posts: 1,741 Member
    I usually let him dive right in.

    inorite?
  • howardheilweil
    howardheilweil Posts: 604 Member
    Sorry if these are too obvious, or have been mentioned but... 1) If I know I am going to a restaurant and will be eating a high calorie meal, I work out like crazy that day. Burn at least 500 or 600 calories. That will at least partially compensate for the higher calorie meal. 2) DON'T EAT IT ALL! You don't have to eat the entire portion to review it, do you?

    Good Luck!
  • 1shauna1
    1shauna1 Posts: 993 Member
    If you're not given the option, just have a few bites. I don't think the restaurant would be offended as you're there to review the food. If they ask why you didn't enjoy it (because you left a lot on the plate), tell them you did (if you did,lol) but this is how you review food - a few bites to taste and savour. You save room for several dishes.
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