Eat Out Without Straying From Your Diet

Most of us know that dining out perhaps isn’t the healthiest option around, but let’s face it – sometimes you just don’t have the time or energy to cook, dinner dates are fun, and you can’t exactly say no when your boss asks if you want to go out for lunch.  For those situations, follow these simple tricks to make sure you’re not straying too far from your diet when you eat out.

Check the Nutritional Info

I’ve noticed a promising trend lately – more and more restaurants are publishing calorie totals for each dish on their regular menus and many menus have whole sections devoted to options that have less than a certain number of calories.  This is a good place to start, but it would be even better to see a complete breakdown of where those calories are coming from.  Almost every major chain will have their nutritional information posted online, so choosing an option before you even get to the restaurant is a good way to ensure you’re not loading up on junk.  Restaurants are also required by law to have nutritional information available, so don’t feel weird asking the server.

 Ask for “It” on the Side

“It” includes a lot of things: salad dressing, butter for your potato, any “secret sauces” which are usually pretty high in fat, etc.  By default, restaurants will usually put a ton of any of these sauces or dressings on for you, but if you ask for them on the side, you can control the portion sizes and cut back on unnecessary calories.

Substitute the Fries

French fries are a favorite side dish for a variety of entrées, even at some higher class restaurants.  Unfortunately, they pack a bunch of extra calories and fat that can really throw off your weight loss plans (Still want something crunchy? Try this simple substitution).  Almost every restaurant will let you substitute the fries out for a different side (some may charge a small fee but it’s worth it when you think about how many calories you’ll save), so try a baked potato or cooked broccoli instead.

Bring Home Leftovers

Portion control is key to weight loss.  Don’t feel pressured to eat the whole meal – restaurants have to-go boxes for a reason!  You can even ask for a to-go box before you start to feel full so when you are full, you’re not tempted to keep eating. You’ll also save some money if you can make your meal last for two meals.

Order Water

Not only do you ultimately consume a bunch of sugar from ordering a soda or lemonade, but water is cheaper (usually free) and it will help you feel fuller faster to prevent you from over eating (learn how water helps you burn calories).  During your meal, make a conscious effort to sip water every so often – it’ll help your food digest and prevent overeating.