How to eat out on a Diet

So, I hate the word DIET. Dieting means you are Hangry. YES HANGRY! It is a combination of Hungry and Angry and I promise you it is not pretty. Instead of dieting, we need to lead healthy lifestyles. Healthy living has to be just that; LIVING. It is no secret that being on a diet is no way to live! It is time to SCREW the diets and start making daily healthy choices! (Sound preachy? maybe. but it’s true).

Well how do we do that? How do we say no when there are delicious smells wafting from the pizzeria? How can we be held accountable when there are amazing aromas of a mom and pop restaurant? LIFE JUST ISN’T FAIR!

Nope it’s not, but that doesn’t mean we should never eat out. Eating out is fun! It’s super social, and a great way to spend time with people all the while enjoying an amazing meal prepared by someone else. There are no dishes to clean up. THAT IS AWESOME. So here are some tips to help you watch your figure while enjoying a nice night out.

1) You pick the place

-Check out restaurants in your area that are healthy and make a reservation! There are tons of organic, vegetarian, vegan, raw, etc. places to go! Even standard American and ethnic restaurants have healthy options. Just make sure that whoever you are dining with is cool with the place.

2) Check out the menu ahead of time.

-So your date is a meat loving, fried food craving, pasta devouring kinda guy. Ok, now what? Pull up the menu online before you go. Knowing what you are going to order cuts down on any “OMG what am I going to order” panic moments, and helps you stick to the healthy choices that you want to make.

3) Substitute

-Sometimes you can’t find something on the menu that fits your dietary needs. Don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions. Order Fish instead of Chicken, balsamic VINEGAR (not vinaigrette) instead of Ranch, and Remember that YOU ARE PAYING THEM!

4) “Can I have that on the side?”

-The “Standard American Diet” isn’t exactly well-known for its emphasis on portion control. That’s your job. Ask for more calorie dense/fatty foods on the side. Nuts, cheeses, dressings, sauces etc. can easily be put in small bowls and served on the side. This way, you can add as much or as little as you want.

5) Pay attention to how it’s cooked

-Added oil, butter and cooking methods can add unwanted calories and fat to an otherwise healthy dish. Did you know that most restaurants steam their veggies and then add butter?! (blasphamy I know). Ask for grilled- light on the oil, steamed-without added butter, and skip fried all together. Broiled, baked and sauteed are good choices too, just make sure to ask how they do it. Again, often butter and excessive oil is added.

6) ENJOY YOURSELF!

-Yes, it is easy to obsess over calories, fat, carbs, sugar, GMO, processed; the list goes on and on. It is also important to remember that you are a HUMAN BEING. It is crucial to enjoy yourself and not to ALWAY obsess about every little piece of food enters your mouth. You can make smart choices, and still have fun while going out!

Yesterday my best friend and I went to Chipotle. I ordered:

Vegetarian Salad.