Tips On How To Eat Out Without Breaking Your Diet

Congratulations on your commitment to better nutrition and following your diet. Once it becomes a habit, it is rather easy to stick with your eating plan. However, what if you end up at a restaurant? How to you stick with your nutritious plan when faced with such temptations? Preparing a plan of action for your dining experience is the best bet so you are not caught unprepared.

A Plan of Action

First of all, you do not want to arrive at the restaurant in hunger mode. Eat something healthy and somewhat filling before you leave so you are not tempted to overeat. A bowl of soup, a salad, yogurt with fruit or even a small helping of leftovers in the fridge are great options to prevent you from indulging in an appetizer or entrée that may be too fattening to resist.

Know which restaurant you plan to dine in and familiarize yourself with the menu. Often times, you can find a menu on their website. Decide in advance which dishes you can eat and if the portions are large, ask for a to-go box immediately and transfer half your food in it or share with someone else.

In the Restaurant

Drink plenty of water before, after and during the meal as this will prevent you from overeating. Also, avoid alcohol when possible and indulge in no more than one drink if you must imbibe. The body uses the alcohol first as energy while the food you eat is processed and distributed as fat.

Do not feel you have to be a clean plater. Ask for that to-go box mentioned above or leave food on your plate. If possible, look to healthy options in the appetizer section of the menu. When possible, ask for substitutions if possible. If a dish comes with French fries, perhaps a side salad, baked potato or wild rice can be a good substitute.

Pass on the fattening bread, especially if it is made from white flour. If you must indulge in a piece of bread, try sourdough or whole grain varieties and skip the butter! When you order a salad, request the dressing and sauces on the side so you can be in charge of how much will be coating your food. Restaurants sometimes use a heavy hand on the dressings and even on sauces on entrees.

If there is a dessert that you just have to try, ask your dinner guests if they would like to split it with you. A distribution of calories is a lot better than it all going to your hips. Aid the digestion process and get some antioxidants too by ordering up a hot cup of tea after your meal. Green tea is quite soothing and healthy as are many herbal teas. These days, teas are a popular drinking pastime.

Do not feel intimidated or feel that you are putting out your server by asking so many questions or requesting substitutions. Their job is to serve you. If they do so with a smile and actually help you with attaining a healthy meal so you can stick with your nutritional plan, then make sure you give them a great tip for all their help.