Unless you’re living on carbonara or dining out every day of the week, then enjoying a relaxing evening at a restaurant needn’t be a cause of stress. But if you do want to reduce the impact of a high-fat meal, then check out our tips for eating out sensibly:
No Bread Thank You
While dining out may be about breaking the metaphorical bread with friends or colleagues, that doesn’t mean you have to stock up on the bread in your basket on the table. Especially not the white bread.
The best way to do this is to simply let the waiter know that you don’t want any bread on the table, rather than having to undergo a struggle between your inner angel and devil while your stomach grumbles and you eventually give in to temptation.
Be Selective
Opt for your proteins where possible – chicken, meat, fish – it’s much better to eat a protein that comes with a large helping of vegetables. Try to steer away from a protein and carbohydrates combo though.
Eat your steak with salad or vegetables, rather than chips – if you really want to splurge, see if you can get oven baked potatoes instead.
Pasta dishes like macaroni cheese are best to steer away from. But don’t be fooled into thinking you’re eating healthily if you order a protein meal with vegetables slathered in creamy sauce.
As restaurant sauces are usually thicker and higher in calories than you may be used to, be sure to ask for your sauce on the side. That way you can control how much you eat and opt out if you don’t want any at all. Also, if you have a choice of sauces, go for a tomato-based one, rather than cream or cheese.
Don’t Be British About It
Us Brits tend to have a very old-fashioned attitude to eating out, thinking that we must order the dishes exactly as they are on the menu. But if you’ve ever had dinner with an American or dined out in the States you’ll know, they almost never order anything as it is on the menu. So:
Don’t be British about dining out and ask for your steak with no fries, your burger with no bun, or additional servings of steamed veggies.
Enjoy It
Above all, don’t over-think your dining experience. You should enjoy it and not feel guilty about eating out. Pick and change and custom your meal for you. You can even look at the menu online before you go, if you know where you’re going. This is kind of like shopping when you’re not hungry. You’re far more likely to make sensible choices without a rumbling tummy.
