Eating Out On A Diet

In the summer, eating out is as common as going swimming or tanning – get-togethers with friends and relatives inevitably end up being in restaurants. But with gigantic portions and liberal quantities of fat and carbs, it can be tricky if you’re on a diet. Here are a few tips I’ve come up with that can help:

-Ignore the breadbasket. This is tricky, but all those extra bread and butter calories will add to the total of your meal, making it likely that you’ll gain weight the next day – especially since they’re empty carbs. Drink your water instead and focus on the conversation.

-Ask for dressings, sauces etc on the side. After a few instances of seeing my future mother-in-law order her salad this way, I started doing it too. Dressings can have up to 100 calories per tablespoon, and they typically pile it on. Ordering a creamy sauce for your dish on the side can help too – you probably won’t eat nearly as much of it.

-Don’t be afraid to ask for a customized meal. If you want something broiled instead of fried, say so! I once told a waitress I was allergic to the flour they cooked their pork in. They ended up making it for me – sans flour – from scratch.

-Just skip the dessert. They’re loaded with more fat and sugar than you would probably have in a day – plus they can have up to 2,000 calories. If someone orders one, just take a bite and put your fork down.

Remember, the only way to turn a “diet” into something that lasts for the rest of your life is to keep your head in these situations. So keep your priorities in mind!

Claire

(Image from foodchannel.com)