Could you use some easy dining out tips to help you lose weight while enjoying your favorite restaurants? According to the National Restaurant Association, 500 billion dollars in sales are made by American restaurants each year. Just imagine what an international figure would look like! Busy schedules, soaring grocery prices and long hours at work have really taken its toll on home cooking.
The growing obesity epidemic and other health-related issues don’t seem to be keeping people out of restaurants, therefore we’re going to have to learn how to make healthy choices when dining out. Just follow these quick and easy dining out tips to help you make wise choices and you will be successful on your weight loss journey.
The worst thing you can do is arrive at the restaurant famished. Don’t starve yourself all day in anticipation of your night out. Eat on your regular schedule but eat light. If your hunger is off the charts, eat a small salad before leaving home or eat a cup of soup before you order the rest of your meal.
Plan your meal out in your mind before going to the restaurant. You might not be familiar with their menu, but you’ll be able to guess the basic choices. Go through step by step, from wine and appetizer to dessert, visualizing how you want the evening to unfold. When you sit down and look at the menu, remember your plan.
Take advantage of the huge portions that most restaurants serve and split a meal with a friend. Consider ordering a healthy appetizer as your entree. You’ll have the double bonus of eating fewer calories and spending less money. If none of that is possible, ask for a doggy bag and eat only half.
Always order dressings and sauces on the side. You can dip your fork and get plenty of flavor and very few calories. Never order fried foods. Instead, ask for food that is roasted, broiled, or grilled. Understand that anything “breaded”, “sauteed”, “au gratin”, “scalloped”, or “creamed” is going to be high in fat. Know too, that foods described as “smoked”, “barbecued”, or “teriyaki” are high in sodium.
One of the most important dining out tips is to limit your alcohol intake. If you must have a drink, order one glass of wine or one cocktail. These tend to be “empty calories” and when you drink, you’re less likely to stick to your plan. If you must have dessert, order one and share it with your dining companions.
It’s a good dining out tip to ask the waiter to hold the breadbasket or chip basket. If that’s not possible due to the wishes of your companions, then stick to your plan. One piece of bread without butter or a half dozen chips with salsa would be more than sufficient.
One of the most helpful weight loss tips is to eat slowly. Chew well and really savor your food. Place your fork down between bites. Focus on your dining companions instead of the food. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to know it has eaten enough, so slow down. Constantly assess your sense of fullness and stop when you are no longer hungry.
Buffets can be very challenging for the dieter. Be sure to use a small plate when you serve yourself. Research shows that we fill the plate we have, so a smaller plate will help you eat less. When visiting the salad bar, choose lettuce, beans, and vegetables. Avoid the prepared salads that are usually high in calories and fat. Avoid also the croutons, seeds, and cheese. Don’t use creamy dressings. A light dressing is usually offered and if not, make your own with one tablespoon of olive oil and vinegar. When serving your own meal, stick to healthy vegetables and the carving station. Don’t be tempted by the variety of desserts. Choose one small one and stick to that.