When I eat out I want it to be special, consequently, I don’t eat out often. You may have seen the advice on how to shave calories at restaurants but really, are you wanting to pay high restaurant prices for undressed salads and plain steamed vegetables? If not, how then can you solve the dilemma of too many calories when you eat out?
Here are some tips for getting the calories out of restaurant meals while still ordering your favorites.
1. Say NO to supersizing
The size you ordered is already too big. Stop
supersizing and you’ll save money. Better still, order one dinner and ask for
an extra plate. Many restaurants will do this for a dollar or two, and it’s
well worth it. Then share the meal with your friend and you split the cost
straight down the middle. Another option is to order from the so-called
“appetizer” menu. Two people could order three entrees, one dessert and split
the whole thing and it’s still a ton of food!
2. Skip the bread and rolls
Many family restaurants still serve a bread basket with your meal. Unless it’s a freshly baked loaf or some really special bread, just skip it. You don’t need to fill up on ordinary bread when you’re paying good money for a meal. Just ask for it to be taken away if you can’t resist, but frankly, you’re an adult, you can resist if you want to. You can simply choose not to put a roll on your plate. Try it, just once and see if you don’t walk out of that restaurant feeling strangely powerful.
If you can’t skip the rolls, at least skip the
butter. That’s right. Eat it plain. Whole grain bread is delicious all by
itself.
3. Stop Ordering Drinks
Soft drinks are a huge cash cow for
restaurants. For pennies, they sell you a squirt of syrup and carbonated water
and act like they’re doing you a big favor by only charging you $1.29 for a
giant 64-ounce soda. Start saving those dollars. Especially if you’re ordering
“to go” skip the drink. If you’re eating it there, ask for water, or at least
switch to diet drinks. Never drink “fat pop.”
4. Slow Down You Eat Too Fast! What’s the rush?
Take your time, savor the moment, enjoy the
flavors. A big part of getting in touch with your hunger signals and learning
to eat what really will satisfy is learning to recognize the subtle signs of
hunger. You won’t know when you’re approaching satisfaction if you’ve gobbled
everything down in five minutes. Take a bite then notice how many times do you
chew before you start wanting to swallow? Once, twice? Make an effort to chew
your food and your body will be much happier. A very large part of digestion
begins in your mouth, not to mention you’ll get much more pleasure if you let
the food linger.
5. Trim Visible Fat and Skin
I know, you really love the
skin–of course you do, it tastes good, it should, it’s pure fat. Do
you want to get leaner, or do you want to eat fat? You choose. I never eat
chicken skin and never eat the visible fat hanging off a steak, good taste or
no. You have to decide what you want more, the second’s worth of pleasure of a
yummy taste, or a lifetime of carrying around an extra 40 lbs? I know this is
counter to the low carb crowd’s belief that fat is good, carbs are evil, but
I’ve maintained an 80-pound weight loss for 18 years without dieting and I
don’t eat visible fat or skin. Enough said.
6. Ask for a Doggie
Bag at the Beginning of Meal
When the food is served,
immediately portion off some to take home for tomorrow. Most restaurants in the
US serve way too much. There is no law you have to eat it all. Do this
frequently and soon you’ll find you’re getting an extra lunch out of that meal.