One of the hardest challenges dieters face is dining out and being social—without sabotaging their weight loss. Believe it or not, you can eat out 365 days a year and still maintain a healthy body weight. It all comes down to the choices you make—like watching portion sizes and ordering a piece of fish grilled, not fried. Try these 15 simple suggestions to make dining out a healthier, yet still fun, experience:
1. Choose the restaurant yourself. Instead of blaming someone else when you end up at a restaurant with unhealthy choices, take charge and be the planner. It’s not always an option, especially if it’s a business dinner, but at least make it happen the majority of the time.
2. Check the menu online. So many restaurants today have menus available online. Before you even step in the door, figure out what the healthy options are and if you should even bother going. Decide ahead of time what you’re going to order, and stick with it.
3. Don’t skip meals, but do grab a snack. Too many people feel that if they’re going out to dinner, they need to starve themselves earlier in the day. Don’t skip meals—in fact, have a well-balanced snack before you go. The last thing you want is to wind up in a restaurant feeling starved. If that happens, you’ll almost definitely make poor choices.
4. Order first. If you can be the first person at the table to order, do it. As we all know, sometimes we’re easily swayed by our peers; by ordering first, we’re less likely to change our selection.
5. Read the menu carefully and don’t be afraid to ask questions. There’s nothing wrong with requesting changes to a menu. Remember, you’re the one who is paying the bill. For example, if you see sautéed spinach on the menu but your dish comes with mashed potatoes, ask if you could substitute. But most importantly: Be nice about it.
Read the full article here.
