Weight Loss Dining Out Options

The biggest challenge that women face when on a diet plan is eating out. Many think they cant go out with friends and indulge in a meal being cooked by someone else when they are trying to lose weight but this isn't the case. There is absolutely nothing wrong with eating out occasionally as long as you make good choices. Being on a diet or healthy eating plan doesn't restrict you from anything but it should make you think about what you order.

For example a simple swap is from regular fries to sweet potato fries, which are a bit healthier for you. But you should also try and avoid foods that are deep fried or battered because this is what houses a high fat content. Ask for a side salad or side of vegetables instead of a carb-rich side like mash. The reason mashed potato can be a risky choice is because you cannot see how much butter/milk is being used which increases the fat content.

One other thing to be aware of when ordering out is the temptation to order salad thinking this will be the healthiest option. This is often a red herring because some salads have a lot of sauce and dressings, which are very high in fat content. A good thing to ask is to have the sauce on the side so you can add a smaller amount then they may serve it with. Also make sure your salad has a protein element like fish, meat or similar to keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Don't Eliminate Anything Completely

The biggest mistake I come across from women who want to diet and lose weight is the fact they have to cut certain foods out. when you look at your diet you should highlight things you can cut down on but I never advise to completely cut out any particular food. As soon as you tell yourself you cannot have something the body will naturally crave it.

Enjoying a piece of cake once a week or having a takeaway every couple of weeks will not stop you losing weight. When you restrict yourself its natural to crave it more and that leads to you probably eating it more than you would normally or attaching an element of guilt towards certain foods which isn't healthy. Allow yourself to eat the foods you like but just remember you cant enjoy them every day if you want to lose weight!

READ Can You Eat More And Still Lose Weight? Portion Size, Energy Density And Weight Loss

Choose Better Snacks

Snacks are a killer for most people, myself included. The afternoon slump after lunch about 3-4pm when your mid afternoon and starting to feel tired and ready to finish work is one of the most common times that people turn to unhealthy snacks. It is important to try and control what snacks you have by replacing unhealthy chocolate bars with fruit or even protein bars.

Planning your day's food in advance is a good way to stop yourself heading to the vending machine and making the wrong choices so take plenty of healthy snacks with you to the office. But remember that sometimes that walk out of the office to the machine is beneficial so get up and take a walk around while enjoying your afternoon snack because this will also boost the metabolism and stop you turning to those unhealthy snacks!