Just curious: what's your go-to choice when menus have nothing you'd want to eat?
jrwms714
Posts: 421 Member
Hi, all. I've been on maintenance for almost 3 years, using MFP for 6. We eat out a lot, and sometimes there is nothing on the menu that I would eat. (I've become a picky eater and am very health conscious ... almost vegetarian/vegan, but not quite.) I always check the menu online beforehand, so if there is NOTHING, I will pre-eat and then have a side salad. If there is a Caesar, I order it without croutons, some extra Parmesan, and dressing on the side, with broiled salmon shrimp on top. I am very satisfied with that. I have found similar things when it is a more ethnic restaurant. I don't feel at all deprived when the menu is one that doesn't work. Years ago, I would have been frustrated about this, but for a long time I have been pretty happy with my food choices, and the way I relate to food for the past bunch of years. But I was just curious as to what others do when they have this situation?
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Most restaurants are varied enough I can always find something to eat. Chicken, fish, chef salad, small hamburger, etc. But then I'm not picky and I love meat.7
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I'm not particularly picky. That said, any restaurant around here that my wife would let me take her to is one where I can find something suitable for my calorie budget. She nixes sushi.3
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I probably wouldn't go to a restaurant that had nothing on the menu that I was interested in eating. I've never had this issue. I go to a restaurant specifically because I'm wanting this or that or the other.21
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Umm.... go to a different restaurant?
Honestly, I can't imagine having such a restrictive plan in maintenance that I would have to make such modifications, even if eating out more than once or twice a week. But if I were that particular, I would make sure that the restaurants I went to were ones that I enjoyed - I don't really want to waste time or money going somewhere that I don't enjoy the food.
When my kids want McDonalds, and I would rather have Chick Fil A - we might hit both drive throughs. Or I might just rather eat at home before we go out running errands and then just get them whatever they want. Those are the only scenarios I can think of where I make similar concessions - otherwise the decisions about where to go out to eat are usually something that I influence pretty heavily.9 -
I won't go to a restaurant or fast food place if they don't have anything I want, same if my family is with me.4
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Most places always seem to have a small sirloin or a chicken breast option and a veggie choice that isn't slathered in butters and sauces. Salads are always a mixed bag because they put too much crap on or the dressing choices are like a billion calories a tbsp.
I've ordered burgers and nixed the bun (meat and veggies!), ordered grilled shrimp from the appetizer menu, whatever. Most places I can find something. Even if I don't and have a 1,000 calorie quesadilla or something, not the end of the world. Have half and move on...0 -
I have occasionally found myself in that situation, but not regularly. Sometimes on vacation where the local food doesn't fit my tastebuds, or at a party or similar. But not regularly. I cook and eat at home, for the most part. So I would ask why you're eating out so often. Are you bored? Pickyness is dynamic and complicated; often it comes from too little variety, sometimes from too many choices. Being health conscious doesn't rhyme with having a restricted/restrictive diet (imo).4
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I’m not picky at all. I can usually always find something that I want. However since restaurants are so expensive we really only ever go to places that we really like. We don’t typically go to places like chili’s or on the border, we prefer local places as their food is better. We only go out 2-3 times a month.1
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The only time I could see me having this issue is a sea food restaurant since I don't like sea food. I might just be eating side dishes or a salad if there were really no other options. I don't go to seafood restaurants though.0
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My husband is pescetarian and if we're somewhere that doesn't offer much for him, he usually gets a grilled cheese and a salad, or mac n' cheese and another vegetable side that isn't cooked with any meat (i.e., bacon in green beans).
Where we live, there are many homestyle restaurants and BBQ places and breakfast is usually the best option for me and my husband because neither of us is interested in things like ribs or brisket. A veggie skillet & coffee for each of us with home fries for him & sausage for me, and we're happy.
I am not all that picky so I usually can find something anywhere. I super hate Sonic Drive-In and if I go there I get a corn dog and diet limeade. Fortunately that only happens like once every 3 years when I am with friends who have very young kids.1 -
This happens to me when I travel for work sometimes. We are required to choose certain restaurants to have meals reimbursed. I figure if nothing sounds great, it makes it easy for me to pick something that is at least going to be spot on for my macros. Restaurants where everything sounds amazing make it easy for me to overindulge
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If this works for you and you don't feel deprived, then why not? It just wouldn't work for me personally.
Restaurants are very expensive here, so I don't go often. I'm not wasting money or calories on something I don't like or even "don't hate". It needs to be amazing for the trip to be worth it. Luckily, all of our usual places have a couple of dishes that I'm crazy about.
For fast food, we rarely go to the restaurant and just order in. If it's one that doesn't serve anything I like, like KFC, I place a separate order from a different restaurant or eat something from the fridge. Not wasting money or calories on a compromise, even if it's as low calorie as a salad.
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cwolfman13 wrote: »I probably wouldn't go to a restaurant that had nothing on the menu that I was interested in eating. I've never had this issue. I go to a restaurant specifically because I'm wanting this or that or the other.
This.....whats up Wolfman? Been taking your foodie advice. Blue apron is amazing btw 2 times a week!2 -
I have a picky husband and in a strange restaurant he orders a BLT. I guess he figures they can’t mess that up.
I have a funny story about that. I found a delightful Mediterranean restaurant in our neighbourhood, family run with grandma in the back. I took hubby there (big mistake), he turned his nose up at the menu and asked if they could make him a tuna sandwich? Of course sir. There was a little commotion in the kitchen as they made his special order. Without mayo.
I never heard the end of it. Lousy restaurant he said, made a lousy tuna sandwich.
I took out all my girlfriends there on our play dates because I was never taking hubby there again.8 -
I'm not a picky eater at all, so it would be extremely rare to find myself in a restaurant with nothing on the menu that I would want to eat. If I found myself in a restaurant with no particularly appealing low/reasonable-calorie menu items, I'd order whatever I wanted (even if it was a calorie bomb), enjoy every bite of it and move on. I didn't lose all my weight from one meal, I won't gain it all back from one meal either.7
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Why would anyone eat out & pay a premium price for something they don't want?9
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cwolfman13 wrote: »I probably wouldn't go to a restaurant that had nothing on the menu that I was interested in eating. I've never had this issue. I go to a restaurant specifically because I'm wanting this or that or the other.
This. I'm not going to go out and spend money on something I don't want to eat.4 -
There are many "popular" chain and local (to me) restaurants that I won't even step in because I already know they don't have anything to offer that I'd want to order.
If I'm not familiar w/a restuarant that I just happen to find walking around, I'll review the menu if it's posted outside or ask to see the menu b4 being seated.
If there's nothing on the menu that I want to order, I'll just leave and try to find someplace else to eat.
BTW, my choice of where to eat is not just based on what is being served. The cost of the food, the interior decor/layout of the restaurant and the anticipated quality of the experienced based on all factors combined also come into play when I decide to eat out or not.
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Why would anyone eat out & pay a premium price for something they don't want?
Pressure from others, I'd imagine. That is always the case for me. Group of business colleagues or family members want to have lunch or dinner together and someone suggests the place...I generally don't try to steer them in a different direction, especially since a lot of people I know have bland tastes or a small comfort zone for food. My close family & friends are an entirely different story however. I try to lead them into trying new things & going to my favorites!
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salad or a burger.0
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I'm part of a supper club that gets together for dinner once a week. We take turns picking places to go, so there are definitely times when the restaurant and its menu are not what I'd prefer. When that happens, I usually will just have an appetizer or else I order a couple of side dishes a la carte and sort of invent my own dinner. We went to a BBQ place a couple of weeks ago. I'm not big on BBQ, so I ordered a side of beans and a side of cornbread and ended up having a really tasty dinner!1
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Yeah, my in-laws are like this, too. I don't usually struggle to find something to eat, though. Grilled cheese is usually a good option. If it's a fast-food place, I go for whatever sort of battered and deep fried onion situation they've got. It's almost impossible to mess up a battered and deep fried onion situation enough that I won't enjoy it.4 -
I guess it pays to be cheap & not have much in the way of family around
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I go out with groups a lot. The motivation is more social in these cases than gustatory. However, I'm a vegetarian, and some of my friends are picky meatarians. Restaurant choice is a balancing act, and I don't enjoy being the difficult one, so I'll go pretty much anywhere others want to. (There are a few chains I argue against, as they're a veggie wasteland.) On quite a few casual dining menus, many obvious vegetarian choices are super-carb'n'cheese-fests (an acre of pasta alfredo or mac'n'cheese, or grilled cheese sandwich, say). Now, I don't especially limit carbs or cheese, but I also don't always want to spend 1800 calories on them and not feel satisfied.
Usually, my strategy is to order several sides (a lot of places will do a plate with all the vegetable sides on it), or to de-construct a sandwich (I like a Rueben without the meat ), or just have a big salad, adding a side of cottage cheese for protein if necessary.
Naturally, if I'm going out by myself or with one or two more food-flexible people, and the point is dining pleasure, then I'm going to lobby for restaurants with delicious vegetarian choices. 5 -
I go out with groups a lot. The motivation is more social in these cases than gustatory. However, I'm a vegetarian, and some of my friends are picky meatarians. Restaurant choice is a balancing act, and I don't enjoy being the difficult one, so I'll go pretty much anywhere others want to. (There are a few chains I argue against, as they're a veggie wasteland.) On quite a few casual dining menus, many obvious vegetarian choices are super-carb'n'cheese-fests (an acre of pasta alfredo or mac'n'cheese, or grilled cheese sandwich, say). Now, I don't especially limit carbs or cheese, but I also don't always want to spend 1800 calories on them and not feel satisfied.
Usually, my strategy is to order several sides (a lot of places will do a plate with all the vegetable sides on it), or to de-construct a sandwich (I like a Rueben without the meat ), or just have a big salad, adding a side of cottage cheese for protein if necessary.
Naturally, if I'm going out by myself or with one or two more food-flexible people, and the point is dining pleasure, then I'm going to lobby for restaurants with delicious vegetarian choices.
Hi! I'm the OP. After reading some posts, I realized that I didn't say I was curious as to what people did, although perfectly satisfied with how I work this out for me. What I also didn't really make clear was that this was only when out with more than a friend or my husband, where restaurant choices are easier. Like @AnnPT77, I do what I mentioned in the original post only when it involves 3+ other people. Also like @AnnPT77, I am in groups often and I feel that if I am the one who is close to vegetarian/vegan and all the others want to go to a certain restaurant, I don't feel right making an issue and I have found ways to make do. I also agree that grilled cheese or vegetarian cheese-type entrees offered in lots of places are just too high cal or too carb-loaded for me to eat comfortably. This is also true going to other people's houses for dinner. I find a way to make it work and I don't want the hostess to have to bend over backwards to accommodate me if she is having a bunch of people over. Hope this clarifies things and thanks @AnnPT77, because you expressed it far better than I did!6 -
I reckon I'd be in trouble if I ate out as much as that so its a good job I don't so I don't have that worry. We eat out once a week, the restaurant of choice is usually very fine cuisine (along the lines of michelin star) where the food is amazing but the portions aren't big so I don't have to worry. I'll choose whatever I want but mostly go for fish or vegetarian option.
I suppose if I were to eat out more regularly, which does apply when we're on holiday I still am inclined to not order a starter and for the main, I will choose whatever appeals most but when I'm starting to feel full I'll stop, even if half the food is left on the plate. I'm very good at knowing when to stop but thats a given I think with being almost 5 years at maintenance. I hardly ever do dessert, haven't got much of a sweet tooth any more.0 -
I can make almost any place work. I opt for lean protein and vegies without any sauces. If that's not available, tehre are salads that I can modify.0
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I have a picky husband and in a strange restaurant he orders a BLT. I guess he figures they can’t mess that up.
I have a funny story about that. I found a delightful Mediterranean restaurant in our neighbourhood, family run with grandma in the back. I took hubby there (big mistake), he turned his nose up at the menu and asked if they could make him a tuna sandwich? Of course sir. There was a little commotion in the kitchen as they made his special order. Without mayo.
I never heard the end of it. Lousy restaurant he said, made a lousy tuna sandwich.
I took out all my girlfriends there on our play dates because I was never taking hubby there again.
It's nice to hear from another with a picky husband, although I am sorry for you, too. I am sure mine is the pickiest person on the planet. We have many wonderful restaurants in our area, and he enjoys none of them, so I go out with girlfriends. His restauant food selections are restricted to french dip sandwiches, fettucino alfredo, chicken strips (really), or pizza, only with specific toppings, or maybe a BLT with no mayo.
Sorry, OP, this is off-topic, but I do not often meet others with picky husbands.
To answer the OP, I guess I try to look at the appetizer menu for something lightweight, or soup and salad.1 -
About the only thing I won't eat is liver or other organ meat...I will never have an issue finding something I would eat at any restaurant (though it might not be my ideal choice of restaurant), even if I was dragged kicking and screaming to Olive Garden or Red Lobster...then again, if my friends or family wanted to go to Olive Garden or Red Lobster, I might be "busy" and have to hit them up another time.3
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