Tips for Eating Out on a Weight Loss Diet
Image thanks to Mark Ramsay
Enjoying an occasional meal out at a restaurant with friends or family is one of the great pleasures in life.
Okay, so restaurants usually do pile up oversized portions on your plate, but that does not necessarily mean eating out will ruin your weight loss diet plan.
You just need to keep a few things in mind to make sure that your diet plan does not go off the rails when eating out…
Order the main dish from the appetizer menu:
Not only are dishes in the appetizer menu more reasonably portioned, they also save you money and a lot of calories. If you are feeling unsatisfied with the starter, consider ordering a side salad. The fiber rich vegetables will fill you up without spiking up the calorie count. Soups are another great option, as they are quite filling. However, steer clear of the creamy soups or too much salad dressing as theses can pack in a lot of calories.
Beware of these high fat buzzwords:
Stay away from the extra butter, cream sauce, au gratin, oil, breaded, Alfredo, batter dipped, smothered or ‘with gravy’ dishes when eating out. The extra calories are not worth it.
Beat the meat:
Even if you find that bucket of fried chicken tempting, it is better that you opt for the steamed, roasted, boiled, broiled, baked or grilled variety. Ask for skinless chicken if available or remove the skin yourself. If you are bored with just eating chicken, you might treat yourself to beef sometimes, but make sure you choose the leaner cuts like the flank or loin.
Banish buffets:
Portion control may turn out to be next to impossible for even the die hard dieter at an ‘all you can eat” buffet. The huge variety of food at the buffet can actually overwhelm you with choices and lead to overeating. Studies have shown that when more choices are available, people tend to overeat without even realizing it. This is crucial when trying to stick to your weight loss diet.
Keep these tips in mind when dining out and you won’t have to jeopardize your weight loss diet plan.