Dining out can be
social and very enjoyable but can also wreak havoc on your body.
Making the appropriate choices while dining out is crucial! I will be
assessing various restaurants to determine what I believe to be, the
best choices in each menu category. My choices will be based on the
items with the lowest calories, lowest carbohydrates, lowest sugar,
and lowest sodium. I often neglect fat and cholesterol but sometimes
those categories are what become my determining factor.
I focus on calories
because that's what most people keep track of and that's what most
people need to watch out for. By now you know that I am not a fan of
carbohydrates, especially if they are from bread or pasta. Fruits and
vegetables are a different story and I would never recommend NOT
picking fruits and vegetables. Sugar is a health sabotaging culprit
so I try to pick options with the lowest sugar. Sodium is not a heart
healthy option so I try to avoid choosing items with high sodium
content. I also try to pick options with high protein content and low
saturated fat content. I try to look at every category on a menu and
pick at least one option that I believe is superior to the others. I
look at everything from beverages to desserts.
When I write about a
restaurant selection from a particular category on the menu, I will
list certain details about that menu option. I will usually, but not
always, list the item's calorie content. I may list carbs, sugar, or
sodium but I won't list every detail of the food or drink option. I
try to focus on what sets that option apart from the others.
I have a few
guidelines for dining out that need to be addressed. First, I always
recommend ordering water to drink. It's calorie free and the most
important nutrient. If you order something else to drink, ask for a
glass of water anyway, that way you will have something else in front
of you if you run out of your first choice. Those calories can really
add up when your server keeps refilling your glass! If you are
ordering an alcoholic beverage you really need to be drinking water
along with it anyway so please consider doing this!
Portion control is
my next guideline. Whenever you place your order, consider asking
your server for a to-go box so that when your food arrives, you can
put half of it in the box and take it home with you. If you wait
until you finish eating to ask for a box, you risk over eating.
Putting half of the food away before the meal begins can reduce how
many calories you consume at one time because when some people see
the food, they feel that they need to eat the food. Out of sight, out
of mind!
When we dine out in
a large group, we can feel intimidated, which brings me to my third
and final guideline- don't feel pressured to eat an unhealthy option.
If the majority in your group orders an appetizer that would sabotage
your healthy habits, consider not eating any of it or just eating a
very small piece. The same goes for bread options and dessert
options. The best way to handle this kind of situation is to voice
your opinion about which appetizer or dessert option you prefer. You
could be the one to encourage others in your group to make better
choices! If the group is still not swayed, then remember moderation
is key. It will not kill you to eat one mozzarella stick or two or
three bites of a chocolate cake.
I hope you find the
information about different restaurants to be helpful and I hope you
have a fabulous day!
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