I travel a lot for work and it's an on going struggle. Salads, meat and broccoli are my norms

There is a phillycheese steak place near my work, and they have a few great low carb options. They offer a low carb plate with a hamburger patty, cheese and side salad, then I order sautéed onions & mushrooms over the meat and avocado on the salad. Other times I order a philly and scrape the bun, toss the chips.

There is also a kabobs cafe restaurant nearby too, and it's easy to get chunks of meat w grilled veggies in a bowl, topped w feta cheese. They have a lot of sauces but most are high in carbs.

I've gutted Greek gyros too, still yummy without the pita bread. Greek delis are usually fast and cheap.

I Haven't tried it but I hear chipotle has a paleo bowl you can get.

Gastropubs are usually up with trends and will usually have some paleo like food on the menu, or will make a low carb meal mo problem. Also consider buying just an appetizer or two with the salad. These type of places usually have a good selection and a few low carb items on there appetizer menu.

We eat out A LOT. A consequence of our schedules.
I typically order:
fish/veg
meat/veg
fish/caesar salad
meat/caesar salad
red wine

Tonight is a family member's birthday. We are going to Bravo. I'm having this, minus the balsamic glaze:
Grilled Salmon
Roasted red peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, Feta, sweet potatoes, pesto vinaigrette, spinach, balsamic glaze
540 calories 11/grams of carbs/3 grams of fiber 35P and 16f
and red wine

If it's lunch, then yeah, something like Panera works. Though these days I've been bringing my own lunches. I've been throwing a big thing of beef or chicken in the crock pot with green chile sauce or red chile sauce and slow cooking it, then fork pulling it and adding a dollop of refried beans or black beans, come cheese, some hot sauce, and rolling it all in a low carb wrap.

if we end up in a pub:
mussels, deviled eggs, bacon wrapped jalapeños, wings,...

Chipotle, Jimmy John's (or other sub places), Red Robin, Bob Evans (or other breakfast/casual family diner), Smokey Bones, O'Charley's, City Barbecue, BD's Mongolian Grill... Just about any place, really. Except maybe Panera.

At Chipotle, just get a bowl, instead of the wrap. Hold the rice and beans, pile it up with extra meat (or just regular amount of meat), cheese, sour cream, and guac.

Jimmy John's does "unwich" which is lettuce wraps. Technically a hand-held salad, but different enough to be "different" in the mind. Jersey Mike's does a "sub in a tub," which is exactly what it sounds like -- whatever sub you want, in a bowl instead of on a bun.

Red Robin can lettuce wrap your burger, or you can get it completely bunless. Or you can get one of their other dishes, which I think they have (though I go there for the burger, so don't really know what all else they have).

City Barbecue and Smokey Bones are slow-roasted meat joints. Pulled pork, ribs, etc. Usually, you can get what amounts to a plate of meat at such places. Get it dry-rubbed and there's typically only a couple of carbs. Just be wary of the sauces, that's usually where the sugar hides.

O'Charley's is a casual dining place, where the go-to item is steak. Grab that and a salad or the steamed veggie side and you're good to go.

Bob Evans is a regional chain here in the eastern Midwest, but it's basically a family casual dining place that's less expensive than a steak dining place like O'Charley's. Think "all day breakfast" and "down home cooking" type of place. You actually can't go wrong with most of the menu, as long as you avoid the fried stuff, bread, and potatoes. Omelets, grilled chicken, salads, the sky's pretty much the limit. These places also tend to allow you to pretty well customize your selection, too. I've been known to have a sausage, ham, and cheese omelet with a side of bacon, occasionally.

BD's Mongolian Grill is a sort-of Asian buffet type place, where you choose the items you want in your meal, then they cook it right in front of you. It's a real treat of an experience. You have to be careful of the sauces, as usual, but there are also dry spices that you can stick with, or go completely sauceless and have the meat and veggies by themselves.

Wendy's is also a decent alternative to McDonald's. I know it's the same idea, but the different selection and slightly higher quality of food makes it a good option for a change in that level of budget. The green tea and strawberry tea are also decent low-sugar options (they are sweetened, though, so be careful if your carb budget is really low, but might be a good treat if you have a higher carb allotment; the large green is 33g, and the strawberry is 20g, of sugar, so not great for low carb budgets, but better than McDonald's sweet tea by lightyears, and most of the sugar in the strawberry is from actual strawberries).

You can even eat at most pizza places (if you can handle resisting the pizza). Most have at least wings, if not salads as well. Plain or ranch, bone-in wings and a side salad make for a good meal. As does a chef salad, even on its own (though perhaps with some extras like olives and more meat).

I don't eat out very often, and having a high carb meal hasn't knocked me off course, so far, so I order whatever I want. That isn't as bad as it sounds, since I don't have major carb cravings. If there are crabcakes, that's what I'm having.

I doubt think Hardees has been mentioned above. They make a low carb burger (any burger you prefer) wrapped in lettuce. Is yummy, and also better quality than McDonalds. It's actually being promoted by the company right now! The girl behind the counter showed me their tray liners promoting it! More baby steps!

But pretty much any restaurant with meat and veggies, or salad. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want!

SaultperMan wrote: »

I'm getting tired of bunless McDoubles and expensive subway salads.

@SaultperMan welcome to MFP forums.

At McDonalds I order a la carte round eggs (fresh cracked and cooked in real butter), sausage and or real bacon with coffee and a ton of half and half creamer.

I just at lunch at a local greasy spoon and had water, 3 eggs fried over easy and three strips of bacon.

After being LCHF for 18 months I am learning more options than I first stated.

I eat a lot of chicken breast with broccoli and ask them to add cheese and avocado to it. Places like Buffalo Wild Wings, Denny's, etc. Most places usually have these things on hand. Then they just have to figure out what to charge you

If I need lunch at work, I just walk over to Trader Joe's and grab some odds and ends. If I am fortunate enough to have a planned meal out (it's a special treat in my poor household!), then I order something cow based and am very specific regarding my sides.

I have eaten other ethnic foods (Thai) but that requires a little planning in the day (ended up with larb w/ cabbage and no "special sauce.")

My new go to place is 5 guys. Order double bacon cheeseburger no bun with mustard on the side. Bottle of water. Free peanuts in the shell as a side.

Your screen name makes me think you might be from ontario so you prob have a swiss chalet near you. I get the double leg dinner with gravy on the side. I just eat the chicken and dip a little gravy. I haven't tried any other fast food places.

Panera's Chicken Cob salad with avocado.

daylitemag wrote: »

Your screen name makes me think you might be from ontario so you prob have a swiss chalet near you. I get the double leg dinner with gravy on the side. I just eat the chicken and dip a little gravy. I haven't tried any other fast food places.

lol, that is exactly what he always orders.