How To Eat Healthy When You Are At a Restaurant
Let’s look at a very familiar scenario – you decide to eat healthy and exercise regularly. But unluckily for you, in just a few days, your loved ones invite you to a gathering, or you get invited to a date at a fancy restaurant. Instead of accepting these invitations with...
Let’s look at a very familiar scenario – you decide to eat healthy and exercise regularly. But unluckily for you, in just a few days, your loved ones invite you to a gathering, or you get invited to a date at a fancy restaurant. Instead of accepting these invitations with joy, you instead start to worry. You think you be tempted by delicious food and fail at your health goals again. But, you don’t have to worry! Just because you are eating out doesn’t mean all of your efforts are going to go to waste. There are ways to eat healthier even when you are dining out at a restaurant. However, don’t forget that the most important thing is to enjoy a nutritious and delicious meal in a good company, and not feel quality` if you order dessert and a glass of wine! It’s about balance and making the right choices for your body! Now, let’s see how to actually eat healthy when you are at a restaurant:
Here is how to actually eat healthy even when you are dining at a restaurant
Thegoal is to enjoy a nutritious and delicious meal in a good company
How To Eat Healthy When You Are At a Restaurant
#What are hidden calories
You have heard about calorie bombs, right? These are certain dishes that contain a large amount of calories that you would not expect. And, as you know, the more calories you eat, the more activities you have to do to burn them. If you are trying to stay healthy and keep up with a routine, you should stick to filling and nutritious meals that are not filled with an excess amount of calories. Often times, to achieve a unique flavor, chefs add larger amounts of salt, sugars, and fat in the dishes. In addition, they sometimes mix many flavors – sweet, salty, bitter, spicy. This can further confuse your taste buds and cause you to eat more than planned. So, look out for heavy sauces and greasy foods.
The more calories you eat, the more activities you have to do to burn them
#Think about your requirements
Whenever possible, ask if it is possible for your meal to be prepared without butter, sunflower oil, salt, or sugar. This applies to main dishes as well as salads and soups. If there is a dressing to go with the dish, ask for it to be put on the side of the plate. No one likes food that is smothered in a lot of heavy dressings. The same applies to heavy sauces based on cream, butter, and flour. If you wish, just opt to add some olive oil yourself – in the amount you decide. That way, you are in control of what goes into your food.
Ask if it is possible for your meal to be prepared without butter, salt, or oil
#Don’t drink your calories
If you are trying to follow a healthier lifestyle, you are probably aiming to limit your sugar intake. Drinking just one can of soft drink can provide you with around 40g of sugar. The same amount is found in energy drinks. So, you might instead decide to drink a strawberry smoothie. However, it will be nowhere near the same as the ones you make at home because it will contain around 98g of sugar! That is why water remains the best choice. If you are at a healthy-oriented restaurant, café, or bar, you can order fresh juices and smoothies that are not full of sugar. The best natural sweeteners include dates, agave syrup, honey, and many more.
Smoothies and milkshakes can contain a lot of sugar and excess calories
#Snack on vegetables
An easy trick to eat healthy at a restaurant is to replace the carb side dishes with one made of vegetables. Instead of potatoes, rice or pasta, ask for grilled or steamed vegetables. Add some balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt. Avoid using too much olive oil or other fat. Or, order a delicious salad as a side dish. You can even share it with friends!
An easy trick to eat healthy is to replace the carb side dishes with one made of vegetables
Look for dishes that are full of a variety of vegetables and healthy fats
#Don’t underestimate a good soup
Before the main course, look at the soup menu. Often times, soups in restaurants are absolutely delicious, filled with veggies, and super hydrating! Eating a delicious soup can also fill you very good, which is great if you are super hungry.
Soups are a great way to eat a lot of veggies and hydrate your body
#Pay attention to portion sizes
Sometimes the portion sizes in a restaurant can be much larger than what you would consume normally. Therefore, you can consider sharing the portion with your partner or a friend. Also, if you don’t manage to eat it all, don’t be shy and ask to take the rest home. This is amazing because you can eat it later at home when you get hungry again, or saved it for lunch for the next day. There is a golden rule – if you can’t control the content, you can control the quantity of what you eat.
If you can’t control the content, you can control the quantity of what you eat
These were our best tips and tricks for how to eat healthy at a restaurant! Remember that the end goal is to be around good company, enjoying a delicious meal you probably can’t make yourself at home. So, enjoy it!
Now you know how to eat healthy even when at a restaurant!
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