Eating Out

What is the point in eating out if you are going to spend $10 on a salad?? I dont want to eat what I eat at home, that defeats the purpose! So here are some tips that I have been taught that help!

Low Calorie Menu: Most restaurants now have low calorie options. If you look there FIRST and see something yummy, close the menu and plan to order that. If there isnt anything that you want, dont settle, but at least you tried. I know many places put a symbol next to their entrees that have under 600 calories, so if you watch for those, that may help, too.

Side Salad and Water: Even if you are getting a big, juicy burger, you can get a salad instead of fries; and with or without a soda you can get a water. I get a water with lemon right away and drink most of it before opening the menu so I dont feel so hungry when looking at option. Then if you have a salad while you wait, you wont get a high calorie appetizer (which should just be a meal), and you wont eat as much dinner. If you want a soda or lemonade or something with dinner, get it with dinner. You wont get as many refills!

Get a Box: I was taught this a long time ago and never used it until recently... If you want the big burger, pasta, etc, order a box WITH your dinner. Most restaurants serve you enough for 2 (or more) meals, so just cut it in half, or they will even do it for you, and you wont be tempted to just sit and eat. If you finish your half, and your salad and water, and sit talking for 10 min and you are still hungry, then maybe go for it-- or get another water! I love leftovers so this works out great.

Dinner for 2: With Valentines day coming up, they are advertising meals for 2. They wont give you much more food, but it will be "romantic", less $$$ than 2 individual meals, and you wont eat so much. You can do it ANYTIME, and I even share with my son sometimes.

Eat Slowly: Enjoy your food! It's not a race! (This is good advice to anytime!) Savor your bites, put down your fork between bites and enjoy. Converse with those around you instead of shovelling in the food and talking later. It's amazing the flavors you can find in foods when you really slow down and enjoy them!

Dessert elsewhere: We never get dessert at restaurants, mostly for price, but you can get good stuff with lots less calories. For example, an ice cream cone at McDonald's here costs $.49 and is 130 or so calories. Its something you can eat on the way home or get in a cup to have when you get there. Good portion, good cost, and always close by.

DONT skip meals: I know lots of people that skip breakfast and/or lunch to save up your calorie alottment for eating out... That makes you MORE hungry, plus slows your metabolism and can ruin your outting anyway. Breakfast jump starts your metabolism for the day, then your healthy snacks and lunch keep you going on natural energy and allows your body to function properly. Then, when you go out to eat, you will eat a healthy amount, have the energy to be social with the people you are with, and have a great evening. You will eat slower and less if you have had a normal food day -- or even had an extra few veggies BEFORE you leave so that your tummy is ready for a smaller amount of your favorite rich, yummy foods.

Hope this helps someone. I enjoyed a night out with my family! We went to outback and I got one of my 2 favorite meals, with a salad and lemon water, and still enjoyed a few yummy sweet potato fries GUILT FREE, then we stopped for a frozen custard so I got the single scoop child size and ate is slowly to enjoy the flavors. It was only about a 650 calorie night and I ate what I like!!!