7 Tips to Restaurant Eating without Regret
Have you ever gone to a nice restaurant, sat down, had an amazingly delicious meal, went home feeling stuffed and regretted your poor decision the rest of the day? We’ve all been there. We swear we’ll never do it again and will stick to healthier options the next time. Well, the cycle keeps repeating itself. So, what do you do so you can stop feeling this way and start eating without regret? That’s exactly what we are going to touch on in this article.
We strongly believe that “diets” don’t work. Replacing the “quick fix” mentality with a lifestyle shift and change in habits is the ultimate in producing favorable results. You can have your cake and ice cream but know that something else is going to need to be cut in order to have your treats. And while we don’t recommend having “unhealthy” food choices regularly, we believe in the stance of everything in moderation. So, how can you go out to eat, get what you want, but not feel defeated as soon as you stand up from the table? Here are 7 tips to restaurant eating without regret.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, changing your daily nutrition, or adding any supplements to your regimen.
1. Know the menu before you get there
Think of this like going to war against the battle of the bulge. You want to have a game plan before you step on the battlefield, right? Think of your nutrition the same way. Go online and look at their menu so you have an idea of what food choices they have and what you plan on ordering. What sides come with the meal? Can you get steamed vegetables? How about a side salad? What lean protein sources do they have?
If you know what you are getting before you walk through the door, it will prevent you from looking at the delicious choices and having your stomach make the decision versus your brain. This will have you eating without regret because you are planning things out in advance. It’s the same reason you don’t go to the grocery store when you’re hungry. You’ll leave with heavy bags of foods you shouldn’t be eating and a lighter wallet.
2. Know that you DON’T need to eat the full meal at one sitting
You do know that when they put the food down in front of you that it’s not a requirement to eat the entire thing, right? What many people fail to realize is that the portion size you receive when you eat at a restaurant is MUCH larger than what a normal serving size should look like. Even that 12+ ounce steak you ordered is around double the amount you truly need for one sitting!
What we strongly recommend you consider is asking for a to-go box as soon as your meal comes out—take everything on your plate and put half of it in the to-go box for another meal. This allows you to have a delicious meal out, but then have a second opportunity to fall in love all over again with your dish at home. This helps with eating without regret. When you think about this from a financial point of view, you got two meals basically for the price of one – WINNING! On top of it, you were able to have an amazing experience at a fabulous restaurant while still keeping your health and fitness goals in mind.
3. Know how your food is prepared
Here is where the wheels can potentially fall off—ALWAYS ask how your food is prepared! This is key to eating without regret. Just because you ordered the steak and broccoli doesn’t mean you’re not adding an additional 500+ calories without even taking in additional food. So, where are these extra calories coming from? Butter and oils.
RELATED: How to Easily Make Healthier Choices Ordering at Restaurants
When you order your food (let’s just use the steak and broccoli example from above for consistency sake), ask them how the steak is prepared or simply ask them to grill it without any butter or oil. The same with the broccoli. They might tell you it’s steamed broccoli, but to make it taste better they load on the butter—adding to your total calorie count without you really even noticing. Ask them to steam your broccoli without the addition of any kinds of butter—you want it plain.
Don’t feel bad asking for your food to be prepared in a certain way. You don’t want to be eating with regret. You want to enjoy yourself. I’ve been in groups where people have said: “I didn’t want to sound like a pain and make things harder for the waitress and chef, so I’ll just eat my food the way it comes out.” Here’s my philosophy… you’re going out to eat at a nice restaurant and you want your food to be made how you like it— you’re the one paying for the meal, so get it exactly how you want it.
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