Typically, people like me, taking care daily of what and how to eat/drink, have difficulties when having lunch or dinner outside. Friends complaining because we are too picky, making tons of jokes; temptation to make exceptions at our diet are always at the back of our mind; selection of the restaurant often limited (fatty fast food is no go for us).. indeed we are a special group of people but we should not be discriminated and instead taken as example. Not by coincidence a lot of healthy restaurants, shops, fast food and products are popping up like mushrooms! But be careful that it is not just a marketing tool.. still keep an eye on what they sell!
Coming back to dining outside, which is extremely increasing nowadays, I would like to share 10 tips and tricks you can use to enjoy your food and company while not messing up with your diet! You can decide to consider all of them, or you can start testing few! All, as usual, is up to you!
1 Target to enjoy the company you will have: eating with people shall be a good time to relax and exchange. Do not be so stressed about what you will eat. Those occasions will not damage your effort (unless is every day) in keeping a certain diet. Obviously you still have to be satisfied at the end of the dinner or lunch. Therefore, do not care about what the others will picked or what they will say about your choices, go ahead and be consistent with your target!
2 Be proactive and choose the location: if dining outside is just one occasion, time to time, try to be the one selecting the place where to go. You can then propose something which is serving food you would like to eat and also that can be accepted by the rest of the group!
3 Decide upfront what to eat: going there without a clear idea of what you would like to eat (fish, meat, veggies, pasta etc..)can be risky. You might end up with extra load of carbs, proteins or fats depending on what you had or you will have for the rest of the day.. plan upfront! Take a look at the menu online and if possible go further with ingredients and nutrition profile of meals.
4 Arrive not starving: when you arrive at the restaurant, try not to be starving. The risk is to eat immediately a lot of bread, grissini or appetizer and destroy your lunch or dinner. Get some fruit, water, veggies before to go or during the day. Eat anyway properly respecting the following Granma rule: morning like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a poor!
5 Select carefully your meal: go for normal portions (less but better food), less elaborated meals (check the amount and type of ingredients), more fresh food and less processed, add a veggie side dish, select your condiment (limited saturated fat in favor of unsaturated ones like extra virgin olive oil; reduce adding of salts), if possible, take a look how the chef is cooking (some place have an open kitchen and you can have look if, for example the fish is swimming in fried oil and if they change the oil they are using).
6 Slow down: if you eat quickly, you might have the feeling you did not eat enough. Take it easy, eat slowly, enjoy your food and your conversations!
7 Selection of drinks: a glass of wine is not a bad idea but limited consumption of alcohol. Obviously in favor more water or fresh juice.
8 Selection of dessert: if you really can not resist and you will not go for fresh seasonal fruits, take the dessert which is more simple, light (can be an ice cream, for example) and less fatty or heavy for you (like a cake made with jam instead of tiramisu or panna cotta).
9 Dinner should be lighter: if you usually are dining outside mainly during the evening, try not to eat too much. Again the Granma rule above! Going into the night, your body will need to rest, and loading the stomach can compromise your sleep and your diet! You should not be full but simply satisfied.
10 Take Away: finally, if you can not eat everything, ask for a doggy bag and take the rest of the food at home. Food waste is a crime! Furthermore you paid for that food and it is your right to take it with you!
Have a good meal!!!
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