When nothing appeals to you at a restaurant...
Options
Francl27
Posts: 26,372 Member
What do you do? Sigh.
Going out for lunch with family, and I didn't pick the place, and there's just nothing on the menu that appeals to me. It's an Italian with a lot of high calorie options, pizza, pasta in sauce, sandwiches (that come with chips), fried meat with sauce, the only 'light fare' options are basically overpriced greens with a piece of protein... ugh no, thanks. They have more interesting salads but they are tiny and expensive.
I absolutely don't want to waste a ton of calories on something I don't even want (and this week has been bad and I don't want to make it worse).. but we're going to go rowing after and I need some food.
What do you do? Thinking of asking for that grilled salmon but with veggies instead (but I usually need some complex carbs to feel full so it sucks either way). For all I know it's going to be a special menu for Father's Day too...
Eating before is not an option as we have to drive 1.5 hour to get there.
Seriously I hate eating out and having to be social sometimes.
Going out for lunch with family, and I didn't pick the place, and there's just nothing on the menu that appeals to me. It's an Italian with a lot of high calorie options, pizza, pasta in sauce, sandwiches (that come with chips), fried meat with sauce, the only 'light fare' options are basically overpriced greens with a piece of protein... ugh no, thanks. They have more interesting salads but they are tiny and expensive.
I absolutely don't want to waste a ton of calories on something I don't even want (and this week has been bad and I don't want to make it worse).. but we're going to go rowing after and I need some food.
What do you do? Thinking of asking for that grilled salmon but with veggies instead (but I usually need some complex carbs to feel full so it sucks either way). For all I know it's going to be a special menu for Father's Day too...
Eating before is not an option as we have to drive 1.5 hour to get there.
Seriously I hate eating out and having to be social sometimes.
3
Replies
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Generally, I pick something that is closest to my needs. For me, that's usually something with a grilled or sauteed protein and roasted vegetables, but sometimes I go with soup or a salad. I often am in situations where I don't have the choice of restaurant and have to make do, so knowing that I won't do any real damage and can go back to my routine when I'm home is empowering.
Honestly, it sounds like your ambivalence has more to with not having control over the day's plans with your family. Do you frequently feel this way when you're not the one making the decisions?5 -
Generally, I pick something that is closest to my needs. For me, that's usually something with a grilled or sauteed protein and roasted vegetables, but sometimes I go with soup or a salad. I often am in situations where I don't have the choice of restaurant and have to make do, so knowing that I won't do any real damage and can go back to my routine when I'm home is empowering.
Honestly, it sounds like your ambivalence has more to with not having control over the day's plans with your family. Do you frequently feel this way when you're not the one making the decisions?
Not at all. I just don't like that restaurant because the only low calorie options are salad, like I said. And salads don't fill me up and I find them extremely boring. I'm a foodie. I don't like boring food. Going to a restaurant and having to eat boring food makes me sad.
But I can't really tell myself that it's just one meal etc... it's been a bad week, as I said. And wasting calories on high calorie foods I don't even want just annoys me. I haven't found food cooked in sauce appealing in years, so Italian restaurants are often a problem.. that's why I almost never pick those. And I've been dealing with hypoglycemia symptoms (normal for me before TOM shows up) and want to avoid high carb foods too.
I just don't get why restaurants never offer some simple grilled protein and veggies (which I don't find boring when cooked properly). It's always salads. Ugh.0 -
Would you feel better if your family picked another restaurant that had items you preferred?0
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Would you feel better if your family picked another restaurant that had items you preferred?
Yeah definitely, lol. The problem isn't that others pick, it's that a lot of restaurants just don't have much in term of lower calorie options... Eating out is always a pain for me as a whole though, to be fair (because I'm sick of salads). Italian restaurants are the worst too... I don't mind spending more calories on an entree once in a while, but it has to be something I really want (I totally indulged on some schnitzel the other day, for example). Otherwise I'd much rather save my calories for something else.
The joys of having to watch what you eat. I wonder how low carb/paleo people do it.0 -
It's easy, order 'off menu'!
Let's say there is a meatball pasta dish and you fancy the meatballs. Ask for the meatballs, no sauce, and some veggies.
Or choose a bolognese and have it with veggies rather than pasta.
If you make an effort, you can always find something that works.
Alternatively, don't eat! You can always say you are not feeling well and just enjoy the outing and sip water and have something at home later.
As a low carber I have been faced with a bacon butty being the only option and just ate the bacon from the middle! There is always a way :-)4 -
CaliforniaAJ wrote: »It's easy, order 'off menu'!
Let's say there is a meatball pasta dish and you fancy the meatballs. Ask for the meatballs, no sauce, and some veggies.
Or choose a bolognese and have it with veggies rather than pasta.
If you make an effort, you can always find something that works.
Alternatively, don't eat! You can always say you are not feeling well and just enjoy the outing and sip water and have something at home later.
As a low carber I have been faced with a bacon butty being the only option and just ate the bacon from the middle! There is always a way :-)
Yeah I just avoid conflict as a whole so I never really feel comfortable doing that... sigh. I'll probably do it though... grilled salmon with veggies. At least it beats salad.
Not eating is not an option at all unfortunately, don't want to crash in the middle of our canoe ride.0 -
If you're going to be rowing a whole bunch, get some pasta. I'd get pasta with chicken breast and vegetables. Ask for the sauce on the side and only add a little, if you're worried about the calories.1
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Timorous_Beastie wrote: »If you're going to be rowing a whole bunch, get some pasta. I'd get pasta with chicken breast and vegetables. Ask for the sauce on the side and only add a little, if you're worried about the calories.
The only chicken on their menu is breaded and fried though... that's why I was going to go with salmon. I don't think that canoeing will burn a ton of calories either. And all the pasta dishes come with cream sauce, of course. I guess I could ask for shrimp scampi without sauce, lol. I'd just rather have veggies than all that pasta.
They had a smaller menu on Mother's Day too, so who knows what will actually be available. Bleh.0 -
Over the years I have found that most restaurants are used to having people order something different from time to time, especially as people have become more aware of food allergies, etc. I don't think it unusual anymore.
I find that I am always accommodated and usually fussed over more than a normal guest, to make sure I have something I can eat and will enjoy.
If you want control over what you eat, take it! Just order confidently. You can say things like 'I hope it's not a hassle, but could I please order...." or "I would LOVE the ...., but can I have it with just..."
I have never been told that I can't order that way. Remember, they have all the ingredients anyway, you are just asking for a different 'mix'.
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Crazy thought - give them a call and ask if they have a special menu for Fathers Day?4
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Alatariel75 wrote: »Crazy thought - give them a call and ask if they have a special menu for Fathers Day?
Doesn't really matter, I'll find out anyway, lol.CaliforniaAJ wrote: »Over the years I have found that most restaurants are used to having people order something different from time to time, especially as people have become more aware of food allergies, etc. I don't think it unusual anymore.
I find that I am always accommodated and usually fussed over more than a normal guest, to make sure I have something I can eat and will enjoy.
If you want control over what you eat, take it! Just order confidently. You can say things like 'I hope it's not a hassle, but could I please order...." or "I would LOVE the ...., but can I have it with just..."
I have never been told that I can't order that way. Remember, they have all the ingredients anyway, you are just asking for a different 'mix'.
True. Although some places don't have veggies (crazy, I know!). Or some already have things ready and can't make things without sauce/dressing (yep... happened to me too).0 -
I'd just ask them to grill you some chicken with a side of veggies. I'm sure they'll be able to.
In the grand scheme things, it's one meal. You may not love it but things aren't always about you. Eat whatever you can choke down and enjoy your family.
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I'll be honest, I used to experience what you're feeling but that has changed since i've learned the following technique.
-> Dont eat anything else that day.
There, i said it. That's it. Don't want to worry about the calories in your meal? Don't want to feel like you have to eat a 1/4 portion in order to not go over total calories? Don't want to pay $$$ for a salad which doesn't fill you up or satisfy you? Then just Intermittently Fast that day and only eat that meal.
This has seriously changed the way i feel about eating out as a female who maintains on ~1,600 calories (max 1,700 if i've just really pushed it that day). I am an active person, i hit the gym 4x a week, I'm a personal trainer, HOWEVER, I am hypothyroid and have some issues with other hormones (like prolactin, and other pituitary hormones) so I can't just eat a crap ton of calories. My maintenance is about 20% lower than it should be because of these issues.
When i used to eat out i would feel guilty, angry at my options, resentful that i have to watch what i'm eating, and all of this was compounded by the fact that i've been a vegetarian my entire life and there is usually 1 MAYBE 2 vegetarian options I can eat when i go out. Imagine that. Going into a restaurant and you can literally only eat 1 item on the menu.
Now, if i know i'm going to out i plan the rest of the day accordingly. Maybe i'll fast, maybe i'll have some BCAAs, maybe i'll have a protein bar or a cup of greek yogurt. Otherwise I know that when i go to this restaurant i can usually eat to my heart's content without worrying about destroying my total daily calorie goal.
As someone who used MFP to lose weight (when i joined in 2011!) this has been absolutely crucial in my maintenance phase and switching to this routine has allowed me the sanity of eating out with friends and loved ones without being the "debbie downer who needs special treatment".5 -
rainbowbow wrote: »I'll be honest, I used to experience what you're feeling but that has changed since i've learned the following technique.
-> Dont eat anything else that day.
There, i said it. That's it. Don't want to worry about the calories in your meal? Don't want to feel like you have to eat a 1/4 portion in order to not go over total calories? Don't want to pay $$$ for a salad which doesn't fill you up or satisfy you? Then just Intermittently Fast that day and only eat that meal.
This has seriously changed the way i feel about eating out as a female who maintains on ~1,600 calories (max 1,700 if i've just really pushed it that day). I am an active person, i hit the gym 4x a week, I'm a personal trainer, HOWEVER, I am hypothyroid and have some issues with other hormones (like prolactin, and other pituitary hormones) so I can't just eat a crap ton of calories. My maintenance is about 20% lower than it should be because of these issues.
When i used to eat out i would feel guilty, angry at my options, resentful that i have to watch what i'm eating, and all of this was compounded by the fact that i've been a vegetarian my entire life and there is usually 1 MAYBE 2 vegetarian options I can eat when i go out. Imagine that. Going into a restaurant and you can literally only eat 1 item on the menu.
Now, if i know i'm going to out i plan the rest of the day accordingly. Maybe i'll fast, maybe i'll have some BCAAs, maybe i'll have a protein bar or a cup of greek yogurt. Otherwise I know that when i go to this restaurant i can usually eat to my heart's content without worrying about destroying my total daily calorie goal.
As someone who used MFP to lose weight (when i joined in 2011!) this has been absolutely crucial in my maintenance phase and switching to this routine has allowed me the sanity of eating out with friends and loved ones without being the "debbie downer who needs special treatment".
But I can't. I have hypoglycemia issues so I typically can't skip meals or I get weak/dizzy. It would be so much easier otherwise! Same reason I need breakfast... can't go much later than 9am without food (plus TOM is due soon and I've been hungrier lately, hence the bad week).
I feel bad for vegetarians though! Must be even worse. Ugh.1 -
rainbowbow wrote: »I'll be honest, I used to experience what you're feeling but that has changed since i've learned the following technique.
-> Dont eat anything else that day.
There, i said it. That's it. Don't want to worry about the calories in your meal? Don't want to feel like you have to eat a 1/4 portion in order to not go over total calories? Don't want to pay $$$ for a salad which doesn't fill you up or satisfy you? Then just Intermittently Fast that day and only eat that meal.
This has seriously changed the way i feel about eating out as a female who maintains on ~1,600 calories (max 1,700 if i've just really pushed it that day). I am an active person, i hit the gym 4x a week, I'm a personal trainer, HOWEVER, I am hypothyroid and have some issues with other hormones (like prolactin, and other pituitary hormones) so I can't just eat a crap ton of calories. My maintenance is about 20% lower than it should be because of these issues.
When i used to eat out i would feel guilty, angry at my options, resentful that i have to watch what i'm eating, and all of this was compounded by the fact that i've been a vegetarian my entire life and there is usually 1 MAYBE 2 vegetarian options I can eat when i go out. Imagine that. Going into a restaurant and you can literally only eat 1 item on the menu.
Now, if i know i'm going to out i plan the rest of the day accordingly. Maybe i'll fast, maybe i'll have some BCAAs, maybe i'll have a protein bar or a cup of greek yogurt. Otherwise I know that when i go to this restaurant i can usually eat to my heart's content without worrying about destroying my total daily calorie goal.
As someone who used MFP to lose weight (when i joined in 2011!) this has been absolutely crucial in my maintenance phase and switching to this routine has allowed me the sanity of eating out with friends and loved ones without being the "debbie downer who needs special treatment".
But I can't. I have hypoglycemia issues so I typically can't skip meals or I get weak/dizzy. It would be so much easier otherwise! Same reason I need breakfast... can't go much later than 9am without food (plus TOM is due soon and I've been hungrier lately, hence the bad week).
I feel bad for vegetarians though! Must be even worse. Ugh.
damn, that sucks! doing IF atleast makes it tolerable
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I am a horribly picky eater. I always special order my food at restaurants. They are always happy to do it. Really, the server probably won't think anything of it. Order the salmon & veggies or pasta with sauce on the side or whatever you think you might want when you get there. They will make it for you.1
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I'm on team Off Menu. I have a dairy allergy, so I've learned just to do what I gotta do. Grilled salmon and veggies sounds good -- just have them add some plain pasta or potato for your carb. You'll do just fine.0
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Sounds like you've kind of decided something to order with salmon and vegetables.
You could pack food from home for yourself and just not eat while at the restaurant. Eat your preferred food in the car or right before you go rowing and just get a drink at the restaurant.3 -
I always look for a protein they don't have to add lots of fat too like a lean cut of steak or salmon and either 2 portions of vegetables or one vergitable and while grain bagget
If it's an Italian restraunt I stick to the 2 veggie portion, the tend to be more calories then most other restraunts0 -
Does the restaurant have Risotto? Quite a few of my Italian friends have risottos as a staple. And if I'm not mistaken, risottos fall under the complex carbs category.
In any case, you'd be needing some energy to canoe afterwards. And Father's Day happens only once a year.
Enjoy your family outing!0
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