Six Restaurant Eating Tips

It’s crunch time. You’ve been good all day, had a hard training session and eaten well without starving yourself, so it really is make or break. Follow these tips to ensure your evening goes ahead with no hiccups.

1. Get a Side Salad

It doesn’t matter what main you’re having, even if it’s a salad too, having a side salad is a must. Salad vegetables are extremely low in calories, but surprisingly filling and you’ll be glad of it while your companions are chowing down their calorie-packed starters.

2. Be Smart with Your Drinks

If you’ve allowed yourself a few extra carbs or saved some calories for alcohol, that’s fine, but stick within your limits. Alcohol calories can add up seriously quickly, so if you only allowed for one glass of wine, then stick to that one glass. Order water or diet drinks for the rest of the meal. Much like the side salad, a big jug of iced tap water is a must for killing cravings.

3. Ask for Dressing on the Side

It’s one of the oldest tips in the book, but asking for dressing on the side really is a life saver. Full fat mayo, oils and sugary salad dressing will take your calorie intake through the roof, so get the chef to serve them on the side, then if you want them you can just add a little.

4. Learn to Say “No”

Whoever you’re with will probably try to get you to indulge and eat things that aren’t on your plan.

The reasons people do this aren’t always clear. It might be because they think you won’t enjoy yourself otherwise. Perhaps they want to bring you down to their level, believe it’s weird to avoid unhealthy food, or most probably, because they’re jealous of your self-discipline and restraint.

Stick to your guns and don’t be put off. They wouldn’t ask a vegetarian to eat meat or an ex-alcoholic to have a drink, so they shouldn’t bully you into eating something you don’t want to.

5. If All Else Fails, Protein and Veg

You can’t go wrong with a good quality steak accompanied by a side of roasted vegetables, or a tender chicken breast with a brightly colored stir fry. With foods like this, you’re getting a tone of protein to help keep you feeling full, plenty of fiber from the veggies, and minimal fat and carbs. Stop eating when you’re full and let your hunger, not your eyes, be the guide to when you’ve had enough.

6. Enjoy

It’s not all calorie counting and skipping dessert, dieting should be fun and eating out can be a part of that. You just have to be sensible and make healthy choices.