TAKE ME OUT

I love eating out at restaurants...a LOT (how could you not living in New York City?). For me, the combo of atmosphere, tasy food and time with loved ones creates an experience that's far beyond what's on the plate. With that being said, it can be hard to maintain a healthy diet while eating out. 

Eating out and eating healthy do not have to be mutually exclusive. Many restaurants have added “light” dishes or even sections to their menus in the hopes of catering to those with more mindful diets. If there’s not a clearly marked section of offerings, here are my tips and tricks for keeping it as light and healthy as possible-

1. Check the restaurant menu before you go. This will help you map out your meal so that you’re not making a game-time decision with an empty stomach. 
2. Ask for dressing on the side vs. mixed into your salad. Often times restaurant dressings are high in calories and they’ll use twice as much as you would at home. 
3. Avoid creamy salad dressings or condiments.
4. Switch up the sides – if a dish comes with French fries, ask if there are any alternatives like a side salad or cup of fruit. If there aren’t, simply ask for no fries. 
5. Ask that the waiter not bring chips or a bread basket. If it’s never there, you won’t be tempted. 
6. If you’re craving a burger or big beefy sandwich, consider asking for whole wheat bread or for no bread at all – this way you can still enjoy what’s between the bread without the added and often unnecessary calories. The money's in the middle! 
7. In general, try to always stick to whole grain carbs.
8. Consider portion sizes – it’s not uncommon for restaurants to serve huge portion sizes, way larger than you would normal eat. Take time to consider the portion size when your meal comes out and eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for our stomach to communicate to our brain that we’re full so scarfing down the entire plate in 5 will leave you wanting more.
9. Drink lots of water. This will help you to eat slowly and truly gauge your level of hunger. 
10. If you’re worried about being able to find a reasonable option after looking at the restaurant’s menu prior to the meal, eat a bigger breakfast/lunch so that you won’t be starving by the time dinner rolls around.

Please keep in mind that these are merely suggestions and considerations that I keep in mind when eating out. You can come up with a list that feels right for you and that won’t leave you hungry or unsatisfied.

And of course, every once and a while, let yourself indulge! Life's too short...

xx C