Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Do Something About It At Restaurants

This can be tricky!  Eating out is full of so many pitfalls it is easy to undo an entire week of healthy eating in one sitting.  Here are a few guidelines to encourage better decision-making at restaurants and less fat consumption.

1. Don't go to any restaurant that serves chips or bread while you wait on your order.

2. Only go to restaurants that have a "light" menu or are geared toward serving "clean" food. Here in Dallas, my faves are Bliss Raw Food Cafe, The Company Cafe,  or even Sweet Tomatoes if you are on a tighter budget.  Fast food? Forget it - eat at home. That is not food and it certainly does not make for a nice experience. Food should be enjoyable and sharing a meal with others should be about the fellowship,  with the food serving its purpose (to fuel our bodies) in a healthy way.

3. If possible, decide ahead of time what you are ordering. Don't even bother with a menu once you are at the restaurant. You are more likely to make a good decision this way. If you can't do this, order a protein grilled, poached, or baked and a side of steamed seasonal veggies (no added fat please). Why not a salad? Too many salads have 600-1,000 calories after you add up the ingredients and the dressings are just too fat laden to do any good for you!

4. Don't be afraid to ask for substitutions! Request no added fat to your veggies, dressing on the side, etc. It's ok - you are paying them so get what you want!

5. NEVER order dessert!! Have a cup of decaf if you need a topper.

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