I posted this blog a few years back and it got a lot of interest. Here it is again, with a few extra tips and a game plan for eating out!
“I didn’t eat all day” - WRONG APPROACH. This thanksgiving dinner approach doesn’t work for eating out. Don’t “save” calories for your night out. Instead eat a sensible, breakfast, lunch and a snack. If dinner out is at 6:30, eat a snack at 4pm. Why? Because it stops you from ordering those calorie-rich appies.
Appetizers & Starters - Skip em. Most are deep-fried or loaded with cheese and fat. Ask them to take bread/buns and butter away from the table. Have a few sips of wine or beer to hold you until entree time. Or if starving, ask for a side salad.
Water - Not every restaurant uses a tonne of salt when seasoning their food, but 95% do! It’s also used as a preservative in most frozen or prepped foods like french fries, canned foods, dressings, etc. It's just part of eating out. So we are going to limit some of the effects of this onslaught of Salt. Drink more water today at your desk, tonight at dinner, before bed and tomorrow before lunch.
Alcohol - Skip the dark beers, tonics and pop mixers. Go with light beer or lighter coloured beers, wine, and use club soda mix in hard alcohol drinks. Don’t mess with the bellini drinks or frozen margaritas.
Entrees - Salads are not always the safe option. Look at the ingredients. Does the salad have cheese, creamy dressing, nuts and avocado with corn or wonton chips. Stay away. Best Bet: A piece of protein (fish, chicken, beef), grain (not fries) and vegetables or side salad. Oil & Vinegar dressing or Balsamic- on the side.
Dessert - Here’s my move. If they have chocolate gelato I get it. If they don’t, I like to go somewhere else that does, and get gelato and wine. Or I have the gelato in my freezer at home. Chocolate or berry gelato packs a big taste punch and can satisfy your need for something sweet. Let me help you with a comparison. Chocolate cheese cake is 500 cals plus per slice with lots of fat. Small Chocolate Gelato is 90 calories.
The Day After - Drink water. And if you are planning on weighing yourself the day after a night out - skip it. The salt and water will lead to water retention. Wait for a day or two.
The Game plan - Eat during the day. No Saving Calories. More water than usual. No Appie. Lighter drinks with no sugar bombs. Protein based entrees. Chocolate gelato. Next day drink water and no jumping on the scale.