Eating at a restaurant

I try to reserve restaurant outings for cheat days so that I can enjoy the meal without having to worry so much about the calories. I'll be good the rest of the week but on that particular meal I just eat what looks good (I still get water to drink and a salad or veggies for a side and usually skip dessert).

Planning always helps me! Most chain type restaurants have nutritional information online, so you can decide before you get there what you are going to eat. Make sure to log before you go so you know what the rest of your calorie intake for the day will be. If it isn't a chain restaurant, then look at the menu before hand and try to find something online or in the data base that seems to approximate what the meal will be, then just make sure to stick to it.

Most restaurants will also do special requests - don't cook in butter, steamed veggies instead of potatoes or fries, etc.

It takes a bit more work, but you'll still be fine to go out! Just make sure to know that most restaurant food is sodium packed, so you might experience a couple of pound gain due to water retention after eating out.

Same here! I am going out to eat tonight and maybe on Sunday, and I've already logged those meals due to the pre-planning. Restaurants are so tricky b/c something that could be entirely healthy when you make it at home could be completely terrible for you at a restaurant.

Case and point - I used to work at Friday's and would sometimes get the refried beans THINKING I was making a healthier decision. I figured out later from one of the chefs that they actually add a lot of bacon fat to the refried beans. WHAT?!?!?

Agreed...so much nutritional information for major restaurants is available online. For independent restaurants, I usually look for a cheat sheet. Hungry-girl.com has a lot of that kind of cheat sheet....what to get at a sushi restaurant...what to get at a Mexican restaurant...etc. If I know I am going out, I plan a day or so in advance what I am going to get. Make sure it's something that you are actually excited about...I used to automatically say I was going to get the lowest-calorie thing on the menu, then I would get there, realize what I picked wasn't something I wanted in any way, and would pick something really terrible last minute.

That being said...from time to time I will let myself get whatever I want when I go out and just be extra cautious during the rest of the day, as well as the next day or two. Have to treat yourself sometimes!

Planning always helps me! Most chain type restaurants have nutritional information online, so you can decide before you get there what you are going to eat. Make sure to log before you go so you know what the rest of your calorie intake for the day will be. If it isn't a chain restaurant, then look at the menu before hand and try to find something online or in the data base that seems to approximate what the meal will be, then just make sure to stick to it.

Most restaurants will also do special requests - don't cook in butter, steamed veggies instead of potatoes or fries, etc.

It takes a bit more work, but you'll still be fine to go out! Just make sure to know that most restaurant food is sodium packed, so you might experience a couple of pound gain due to water retention after eating out.

I only go on days that my intake is low and I can afford the calories. Over time you learn what places have what. Like Olive Garden has a lunch portion lasagna for just over 500 calories. Red Lobster has lots of low calorie fish options. If a place doesn't have or provide nutritional information, you likely don't want it.

I try to look on-line for the restaurant's nutrition guide. If that's not available, I usually just try to order what seems to be the better choice, nothing fried or too much cheese, etc. (the things that I crave). I don't think an occasional over indulgence is bad, though. I think it is a good break, as long as you make sure it is only a break!