Eating out this weekend but don’t want the extra calories?
I want to give you 3 tips for eating out. It’s the weekend. And we’re probably going to partake in some food that you have not prepared yourself. There are a few things you can do to save some calories and still have a great experience.
Tip #1 – Preview the Menu Ahead of Time
If you’re going to be eating out, look at the menu ahead of time. If you know where you’re going to go, maybe you have a couple of favorite places or you’ve already got it planned, go to the menus for the restaurant. Look it up online. Most places have that. Pick out two or three meals that look healthy to you, but actually sound like you would enjoy them. When you get to the restaurant, those are one of the three choices you’re going to pick from.
This way you’re still getting to choose what you feel like that day, but you’ve taken the time to review the menu ahead of time and make smart decisions based on logic and NOT based on what’s feels right based on your hunger level and what you’re craving.
Tip #2 – Order Veggies and Eat Them First
I mean, when are we not craving cheesecake, right? Let’s take those decisions and make them before we’re in a position to be making them when we’re hungry. Just like you wouldn’t go grocery shopping, hungry. You don’t want to go to the restaurant and make decisions when you’re hungry.
We want to have those done ahead of time. Now that being said, if you’re at the restaurant right now reading this blog post, and you haven’t looked at the menu ahead of time and you’re really hungry, and you’re going to make some crazy decisions that you might regret later, ask for an extra side of veggies with your meal and eat the veggies first. Eat the veggies before you eat anything else. It’s going to fill you up a little bit and you’ve fueled your body with some good nutritious food. Then you can just eat as you would’ve normally.
Tip #3 – Snack on Veggies at Home Before You Leave for the Restaurant
The third option that you have is eat some veggies before you leave the house. You should always have something in your house ready to go. You don’t know if you’re going to have a late night at work, if the kids are going to be driving you crazy and you won’t have time to cook. If you don’t have anything planned and prepared in the fridge, you could be setting yourself up for some big misses, when it comes to nutrition.
Prepare some veggies ahead of time in the fridge and have those ready. Before you leave for the restaurant try to have some broccoli, carrots, some snap peas, whatever your favorite veggies are. I don’t care what they are. Go ahead and eat them. And then when you get to the restaurant, you’re not going to be as hungry and you probably will make better decisions than you would’ve without those veggies.
If you need any other tips or tricks, book a call with me. I’d love to help.
Coach Jennifer