What to order at local restraunts besides grilled chicken sandwiches

I usually order soup/salad, grilled chicken salad, or salmon if they have it! Plus whatever fruits and veggies they offer.

if i go out to eat i eat what i want and make it fit or eat at maintenance. If we are spending money to eat out im gonna enjoy it. I could make better tasting food at home for the "low calorie" options at most restaurants.

I try to know what I'm going to get before I go out. It takes the spontaneity out of going out but it helps me stay on track.

What do they have on their menus? Are these fast food type places or restaurants with a more varied menu?

I would not assume that restaurant soup has less sodium. A bean, lentil or vegetable soup is probably lower calorie unless it has added cream or cheese.
You can look up a similar item at a chain restaurant and get an idea of what the calories might be. A piece of meat, solitary vegetable or fruit is easier to guesstimate than a mixed dish.
Things that can sneak up your calorie count are overly large portion sizes, nuts, dried fruit, cheese, condiments, sauces, dips, dressings, butter, jam, bread, crackers. Breaded and fried foods have more calories but a grilled chicken sandwich or salad could be the same as a burger depending on what is added to it. It is easy to eat more rice than a portion should be.
Thin crust pizza, salad with a vinaigrette dressing, single burger, baked potato, grilled meats, vegetables, taco with salsa instead of cheese/sour cream/guacamole, eggs, yogurt, oatmeal without a lot of additions, fruit, unsweetened tea, water are probably safer choices when you don't know the calories.

I am not eating out and ordering foods that aren't fabulous. I'd rather just pack my own healthy stuff and save the money.

coalz wrote: »

Get what you want then only eat half. American portions are ridiculously large! You'll get more bang for your buck & less meal planning to worry about the next day. I just tell the server straight up - I'll take this & may I please have a to go box as well .

That never works for me. Half a sandwich will keep me full maybe 2 hours... I don't find most portions that huge (except the fries that come with everything, there's always probably 400-500 calories worth)... In chains, yeah, but this isn't about chains.

The main place we go is a Greek place. They have turkey burgers and various vegetarian options using mushrooms instead of meat. Another lunch place has grilled shrimp or salmon but it is a bit more expensive. I like going to the local places rather than the chains because they are usually more flexible.

You're not going to get much variety for healthy options at most restaurants. You're pretty much stuck with grilled chicken or fish, and salads. Anything else is fatty meat, cheese, and bread.

RWClary wrote: »

I am not eating out and ordering foods that aren't fabulous. I'd rather just pack my own healthy stuff and save the money.

Pretty much. I can grill a chicken breast myself. Why would I pay someone else to do that at some obscene cost? If I am eating out it is probably a special occasion or I am on vacation. In neither of those cases, am I cheaping out in terms of calories or cost if I'm eating out.

Don't eat out maybe. Seriously, is there a reason you have to eat out? I rarely, if ever eat out and can go a whole month or more without eating out anywhere. If I were to eat out then I have to stick with the grilled chicken or side salads or a very plain baked potato - and even with those there is so much sodium I can't eat out for that reason. They totally throw me off. Too many hidden calories in food that I didn't prepare from raw.

I love eating out and trying local restaurants and it's part of my social life. I ate out at least once a week, often 2x, while losing, and simply fit it into my calories (I had to estimate calories and estimated high, since nowhere I go is a chain with calorie counts). My only rule is that the food has to be worth it, and not simply a higher calorie version of something I could make at home.

RWClary wrote: »

I am not eating out and ordering foods that aren't fabulous. I'd rather just pack my own healthy stuff and save the money.

Pretty much why I rarely eat out now. It got to be something I'm really craving for it to be even worth it (or I just REALLY don't feel like cooking).

And yeah, if it's something I can make at home easily for less calories, I'm not even considering it... I'd rather have grilled steak and veggies, frankly.

So I go out for sushi, pizza (I can make it at home but it's just not quite the same), lasagna/gnocchi when I feel like it (I guess I could save some calories on that but it's a PITA to make), gyros... yeah that's pretty much it (but I'll gladly have steak and veggies at some place that has fantastic desserts).

Oh and buffets... once in a blue moon (like my birthday).

lemurcat12 wrote: »

I love eating out and trying local restaurants and it's part of my social life. I ate out at least once a week, often 2x, while losing, and simply fit it into my calories (I had to estimate calories and estimated high, since nowhere I go is a chain with calorie counts). My only rule is that the food has to be worth it, and not simply a higher calorie version of something I could make at home.

This. I have always enjoyed eating in restaurants and had no issues with managing it while losing, or now that I'm maintaining. Planning ahead, banking some calories, making smart choices, are all tactics that I use. I eat at a fast casual place probably once a week for work, pizza or mexican maybe once a week with my family, and a nice meal out with my husband or friends about once a month.