Weight Loss And Eating Out At a Restaurant - 8 Tips On How To Make Healthy Choices

Healthy Dining Choices

It seems so hard sometimes to stick to a healthy eating plan when there are constant celebrations that are surrounded by food and drink.  But it doesn't have to be stressful. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I wanted to share some tips that have worked for me in the past.

1. Plan ahead

If the choice of restaurant is up to you, chose one that you know has fairly healthy dishes so that you won't be tempted.  Research the restaurant prior.  Look them up online and go through the menu and pre-plan what you think is the healthiest option that you will still enjoy.  This way you don't even have to look at the menu when you arrive so you won't be tempted to order anything else.  When you're making a booking you can also ask not to be seated near the kitchen, this way you won't have to see and smell all of the dishes you are trying to avoid.

If you're lucky enough to have a partner who keeps you on your toes and is surprising you with the choice of restaurant, then planning ahead isn't possible, however, you can still prepare in other ways.

 2. Stay hydrated

A lot of the time when we think we are hungry we are actually dehydrated.  Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day prior to the dinner.  A general guide is eight 250ml glasses per day (increase it on a hot day where you're perspiring or exercising).

3. Don't go hungry

This goes hand in hand with tip number two.  If you go to a restaurant hungry you may have lost have the battle.  I'm not suggesting you have dinner before you go and then make yourself sick trying to stuff yourself at the restaurant.  What I mean is to have an extra snack for the day about 1-2 hours before you go, like a piece of fruit, some yoghurt, a muesli bar or even a sandwich if you're really hungry.  Eating a sandwich is far better than showing up to a restaurant starving and shoveling down anything in sight.

4. What to order?

Grilled, baked or steamed are the words to look for.  Steak can be deceptive as sometimes it's cooked with butter but leaner cuts include tenderloin, sirloin and flank. Skinless grilled chicken is often a safe bet.  Pasta meals with tomato based sauces (except creamy tomato) are fairly safe, just watch the portion size.

Instead of fries choose rice, pasta, plain bread or baked potato and tell them to hold the butter and/or sour cream.  I know it's carb heavy advice here but to me I'd rather eat bread, pasta or potato than deep fried chips or get hungry and eat things I'll regret.  Don't be afraid to ask for substitutes or have the dressing/sauce on the side or not at all.

5. Portion size
As a general rule the portion size at a restaurant is double.  Try to remember how much a typical Lite n' Easy meal would be and if in doubt use the size of your fist for meat, veggies, rice, pasta etc.  I'd suggest trimming away the excess portion at the start of the meal and giving it to your dinner partner or have it off to the side, this way you will know when to stop.

6. To drink or not to drink? 
Most restaurants will have sugar free soft-drinks and soda water to choose from.  If you decide to drink, alternate alcoholic drinks with water.  Depending on what you drink you can also try half alcohol with half soda water or sugar free soft-drink instead of full strength or ask for half shots.  Try to have a drink with the meal and not on an empty stomach, you won't drink as much and won't tend to make bad decisions... I'm talking food wise ;)  Limit yourself to two drinks tops or decide how many you want to stick to before you go.

7. Have your cake and eat it two
So you made it through dinner but can't resists the desserts?  See if your dining buddy will share the desert with you, it's more intimate and half the calories ;)

8. Don't sweat the small stuff
Sometimes even though we try our hardest there are no healthy options or we don't want to think about what we're putting in our mouths for one night.  Everyone deserves a break every now and then so enjoy it!  Just make sure not to get down on yourself later and throw all your hard work away.  One night is nothing in the grand scheme of things and what kind of healthy eating plan is it if it isn't flexible?

Whatever you do, just remember to have fun :)

I hope you found this helpful.  Do you have any tips that you would like to share?