These tips for eating out can save your waistband and your wallet.
1. Check the menu out beforehand. Before you dine, see if your restaurant has an online menu and scope out the healthy options before you go. That way you don’t feel rushed and end up choosing the first fattening thing you see.
2. Before you leave, have an apple and a glass of water. The fiber in the apple will fill you up and won’t make you jump for the bread basket the second it comes to the table. But don’t starve yourself the entire day. Have a healthy breakfast, lunch and a small snack or two.
3. If you can, ask the waiter to skip the bread all together. You’ve heard the saying out of sight out of mind, right? Well, it really does work. If the bread’s not on the table you can’t eat it.
4. Nix the sugary drinks or alcohol. Sometime we forget that our beverages are packed with calories and sugar. Learn to drink water with lemon, club soda with lime or unsweetened iced teas with lemon. The citrus helps with digestion and flavors boring water. Skip the diet soda. Even though it might not have any calories, the artificial sweeteners can cause bloating and the chemicals are not meant for human consumption. If you have to have soda, the real thing is best, but I would ban soda from your diet forever.
5. Start with a salad. A fresh green salad with dressing on the side. The more colorful the veggies the better. And some even have fruit - a bonus. Don’t choose salads with high fat items, like blue cheese, bacon, cheddar or croûtons. A small amount of nuts are OK, since they have heart healthy fats, (not the candied kind though).
Dip your fork in your dressing first, then into the salad, rather than dumping on the entire thing on top. And skip the fat free dressings. They are worthless, tasteless and full of chemicals. Stick with a balsamic vinaigrette every time.
6. Soup anyone? Now that you’ve filled your stomach with a few servings of fruits and vegetables, why not try a healthy soup? Liquid fills you up faster and with all the fiber from your salad you won’t want to eat another bite. Choose a soup that is broth based, like minestrone or tomato. Do not choose soups with cream or cheese. If you are not sure, ask you waiter what’s in their soups. And skip the crackers, please.
7. If you’re still hungry, try a small appetizer, split an entree or have your waiter doggie bag half your plate before they serve it to you. Most restaurants are already accustomed to do this for their patrons. After all you are the paying customer and the one leaving the tip. This is your dining experience.
8. Say no to the dessert menu. Dessert should be reserved for a few special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries, not after every meal. Your dinner should be the smallest meal of the day. You don’t want to go to bed with a full stomach. Not only will you have trouble sleeping, but you will definitely pack on the pounds by eating a heavy meal before bed.
Don’t give into temptation. If your company is having steak and lobster and a huge slice of cheesecake for dessert, just think how artery clogging that meal is and how much smaller your waistline will be by not giving in to the temptation. If fresh fruit is an option on the menu, chose that if you want to partake in dessert.
9. Never think about the foods you can’t eat, think about all the foods you can! Every menu has healthy options or ways to prepare dishes in a healthy way. Choose broiled fish or chicken, tomato sauces instead of cream and brown rice over pasta.
10. Keep the conversation going. When you’re talking you’re not eating, and conversation keeps your mind off of food.
If you follow these simple steps you won’t over indulge or feel like a blimp after your meal. Think of food as your energy source and a way of giving your body the nutrients that it needs to make you feel healthy and vibrant.
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