How to Eat Out without Blowing it: BE DECISIVE
Eating out is a way of life for most Americans. Most of my clients eat out at a restaurant at least once or twice per week, if not more. And many of them struggle with making good choices when they do so. You can eat at a restaurant without feeling bad about your decisions later, but you have to decide ahead of time what your game plan is. You need to have your mind made up about what you will be eating ahead of time. Are you watching your carbs? Are you staying away from dairy? Are you trying to cut back on booze? These are all questions that need to be answered before you open the menu.
RESTAURANT BEST PRACTICES
When I eat out, sandwiches, bread, and pasta are on the no-go list for me, as well as alcohol. These are foods I have eliminated from my diet completely because they serve no nutritional value. It has not always been like this and I didn’t decide to eliminate these foods all at once. But if you are trying to lose weight, you need to choose foods that will give you the most bang for your buck! When I look at a menu, I only look at the meat entrees, salads, and appetizers. I choose something that will leave me satisfied, but that I can still enjoy. If I want something more exciting than water, I order a club soda with lime. This is a great substitute for alcohol as well. It’s fizzy, and tart, and will satisfy your booze craving, I promise!
WHY ARE YOU EATING OUT?
It is one thing to eat out for a special occasion, like a birthday, anniversary, or work event. It is another thing when you are eating out, just because. We’ve all been there, I get it. Sometimes it isn’t feasible to make a home-cooked meal. But if your life is so busy that you don’t have time to eat at home, you should take a look at what is prioritizing your schedule. Eating out is ok on occasion, but it does not take the place of cooking your food fresh from home with real ingredients. You can’t know everything you are eating when you eat out, but you can when you eat at home.
These are my tips on how to eat out without blowing it, but at the end of the day, it boils down to your personal conviction about your current state of health and long-term health. If you have kids or family, it is even more important to think about the example you are setting for them. You can change your health and the quality of health you and your family have later. It starts with small changes. Four beers turn into 3, then 2, then 1, and eventually none, or only on special occasions. Eating out becomes less satisfying, and less convenient. You start feeling better, moving better, and sleeping better.
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