Tips for eating out, and not feeling guilty about it, while you are on a diet
AS THERE are very few eateries which list every ingredient that goes into their dishes, it’s practically impossible to know exactly what you’re eating. And while I am a great advocate for cooking your own food, I also cannot deny that every now and then I enjoy the experience of going to a restaurant to eat something that a professional chef has prepared.
For your own sanity, the trick is not to get too hung up on the minutiae – unless of course you have serious allergies which have to be considered.
Before I started following a Paleo lifestyle more than two years ago, The Husband and I regularly ate out, and because I did restaurant reviews, at least once a week we tried out new restaurants – and different kinds of foods.
Of course, having cut legumes, dairy, refined sugar, grains and processed foods from my diet, I’ve also had to cut the reviewing because my dietary requirements are now just too restrictive.
However, over the past two years I have learned a couple of tricks which have helped make eating out a bit easier – because I certainly do not want to be that customer who asks for so many adaptations to their dish that they’re basically ordering something that’s not on the menu.
◆ Check the menu beforehand:
These days, most restaurants have their menus posted online so it’s not too hard to check beforehand to make sure there’s something you can order without straying too far from your eating plan.
You’ll also find that many restaurants now include low-carb, gluten-free – and even vegan – items on their menus. I’ve often found a number of items which cater to my needs, on the “allergen menu”.
◆ Order something simple: If you’re sticking to a strict diet that excludes any particular food groups, keep your order simple.
I often opt for an unbasted steak with a baked potato or salad with the dressing on the side. If you’re avoiding wheat, gluten or all grains, don’t order the crumbed schnitzel, battered fish or deep-fried onion rings.
◆ Ditch the sauce: Many of the sauces you’re offered with steak – think mushroom, pepper, cheese – contain milk or cream, so if you’re lactose intolerant or avoiding dairy, say thanks, but no thanks to the sauce. Most basting sauces contain large amounts of sugar, so these should also be avoided if you’re watching your waistline.
Or, if you’re willing to compromise, simply be aware that basting should be had in moderation.
◆ Ditch the bread: Many restaurants offer bread for patrons to enjoy before their meal. Often this fills you up before your main meal has even arrived, so it may be worth giving the bread a miss, particularly if you’re keeping count of your calorie intake.
Since I stopped eating grains, I’ve also started ordering my burgers without the bun. And if you too decide to go bunless, please order it that way rather than leaving the bun on your plate, where it will go to waste.
◆ Fill your plate with salad: While many of us grew up believing that meat should make up the bulk of your meal, it’s actually veggies that you should be bulking up your meal with.
This is a particularly useful strategy when you’re at a buffet.
◆ Go easy on the booze: Yes, booze has calories, too. So rather than ordering another glass of wine as soon as you’ve finished the first, have a glass of water in between rounds. Your liver will thank you, too.
When you drink too much, you may also be more inclined to want to snack more or eat foods you may ordinarily avoid.
◆ Be prepared to compromise:
Yeppers. I’ve saved the best for last. Be prepared to compromise and be okay with it – because you can’t control everything, particularly not what’s going into a dish that someone else is making in a room that you do not have access to.
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