If you’ve been trying to eat healthier, drop some pounds, or just stay on track with your meals, it doesn’t mean that you have to put your social life on hold.
Nowadays, most restaurants are being conscious of the growing demand for healthier food alternatives, so it’s not hard to find many lighter and more nutritious dishes in the menus.
Today I want to share with you some tips to stay on track when eating out. These are very simple but extremely helpful. Try to follow them next time you go out on a date or with friends, and always remember that if you fall off the wagon, you can always hop back on at your next meal!
– Skip the bread. Most breads that are served at restaurants are made from refined flours and filled with empty calories. This will give your body zero nutrition while spoiling your appetite.
– Share different plates. This way you get to experience more items from the menu without overeating any of them.
– If you don’t want to share different plates, order two appetizers instead of one appetizer and an entrée. Remember, portion control is very important when taking care of our bodies!
– Always include a salad as part of your meal, but watch out for the dressings. Pick those that are oil based instead of the creamy ones because they’re usually more processed and full of unhealthy ingredients.
– Drink a glass of water between each glass of alcoholic drink. Alcohol is full of empty calories so drinking water will help you stay hydrated.
– Choose between alcohol and dessert, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. I’d recommend you to go with red wine because it’ll provide you with some antioxidants or with dessert. Desserts are usually full of sugar but at lease there’re some macronutrients involved. Again, moderation is important!
To be honest, sometimes I apply all of the tips and sometimes I apply none of them. It depends on where I’m at! Depending on your goals and on how serious you are about them, you can pick and choose. Also, it’s different if you only eat out once a week vs. four times a week; don’t be too hard on yourself. These are just general guidelines that you can apply if you want to feel better the next day and not like all your efforts have gone to waste.
Hope y’all are enjoying spring!
Claudia Deen is a Certified Health Coach based in Savannah, GA, and the founder of The Trendy Smoothie. Claudia is a brown belt in karate, thirteen-time half-marathon finisher, seven-time marathon finisher, and two-time Ironman 70.3 finisher. After a career in advertising, her passion for fitness and fresh eating led to a career centered on helping others achieve a healthier lifestyle. In 2013, Claudia married Paula’s son, Bobby. You can follow Claudia on her blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
