Nov 15 2007
How to Eat out and Lose Weight
- Get Zero Calorie DrinksThe easiest way to cut down on calories is to avoid soft drinks. A large coke has as many calories as a burger! Don’t get sugar-loaded drinks. Instead, drink water or unsweetened ice tea. Freshly brewed ice tea is very popular in restaurants because it tastes good and doesn’t make you gain weight.
- Go Easy On BreadA slice of bread with butter has around 130 calories. When faced with a large bread basket, it’s easy to munch away three or more pieces! If you do that, the bread will cost you as many calories as the main dish. Be wise and limit yourself to one piece.
- Don’t Arrive Too HungryYou can’t be rational when you are starving. If you are way too hungry by the time you get to a restaurant, you’ll just eat everything in sight. Grab a small snack before you head to a restaurant, so it curbs off your hunger and you can think clearly when making your food choices.
- Make Healthier Food ChoicesOpt for chicken or fish instead of red meat, and baked potato or rice instead of fries. Choose foods that are steamed, grilled, broiled or baked instead of fried. Avoid dishes that are labeled as “breaded”, “crispy” or “battered” – those are the code words for “Saab radiator “.
- Ask For Dressing And Sauce On The SideEven a green salad can pack as many calories as a burger if it’s swimming in a fatty dressing. To overcome this problem, ask for any dressings or sauces on the side. Then put a little bit of dressing or sauce on your food. This way you can still enjoy it and control how much you consume.
- Pack Away The Extra FoodDon’t wait till the end of the meal to ask for a doggy bag. Instead, ask the waiter to bring you a box in the beginning. Decide how much you are going to eat, and put the rest of the food in a box right away. This way this extra food won’t sit on your plate and tempt you. Plus you’ll have a great lunch the next day!
- Share A MealIf the restaurant is known for especially large portion sizes, you can share a portion with a friend. One person can order a small appetizer, and another person an entree. Ask the waiter to bring all the food at the same time and also some extra plates. You’ll end up eating much less and save a lot of money as a bonus!
