Some people who are really into their health and fitness goals tend to panic when they have to go to a restaurant. Other people probably go to restaurants too often and indulge. Being in either one of these categories is not healthy for you or your mind. Because of birthdays, anniversaries, and other social gatherings, its not realistic to say “never go to a restaurant”. Whether you fall into the category of panicking about messing up your diet or indulging to much, I’ve compiled this list of tips to help you best stay on track. I always follow these tips when I am going to restaurant, and because of that I’ve always been able to stay on track.
1. Every meal out is not a party.
Just because you are going out for dinner does not mean you need to have an end all be all cheat meal. One of the most common downfalls people make at restaurants is eating way too much way too often. Unless it is truly a special occasion, like your birthday or wedding anniversary, there is no need to eat all of the food just because you’re out. The last time I indulged at a restaurant was in January for my birthday, the next time I’ll indulge will most likely be our anniversary in September. As hard as it may be to do and acknowledge, don’t treat every meal out like its a party and stick to the basics.
2. Do your research and plan ahead of time.
Anytime I go to a restaurant, I always know what I’m going to order before I get there. I usually spend a significant amount of time researching menu options to figure out what meal will best fit my daily caloric needs. I usually just try to stick to what I would normally eat for dinner which could be a large salad or some kind of meat and vegetables. Depending on where you are going, you may even be able to view the calories and macros ahead of time. While it may be a buzzkill to see the calories in the food, it can really help you make some informed decisions on your food choices.
3. Ask specific questions to the wait staff about your meal.
Before I order a meal at any restaurant, I usually ask the wait staff specific questions about the meal. At this point, I’ll usually ask for the meal to be prepared without any excess ingredients as well. More often than not the wait staff and kitchen staff will be more than happy to accommodate your request.
4. Skip the bread basket.
I’m sure you had to know that I was going to address this point. As hard as it may be, because the bread basket is really so appealing – skip it! Indulging in all the bread and butter before a meal can really up the calories you’re about to consume. If you’re one of those people who cannot resist the temptation of the basket if it is in front of you ask the wait staff not to bring it or to take it away if it was already there waiting for you.
So the next time you go out to a restaurant, what will you do to help you stay on track? Will you try out one of these tactics or do you have your plan you usually follow? Tell us in the comments below!
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