We all know that the fastest route to diet failure is the feeling of deprivation. And nothing's worse than having to sacrifice dining out with friends and family in the name of cutting calories. Good news: you don't have to!
One of the great pleasures of life can be a lunch with a friend or a family dinner at a restaurant. It’s fun to spend time socializing over a great plate of pasta or a yummy burrito, and everybody needs those “don’t have to cook” nights. But when you’re dieting, you may think the temptation is too much, and force yourself to forego those special occasions for the sake of saving calories. There’s no need! If you make wise choices, you can still enjoy going out to eat and not feel guilty about it.
Don’t “super-size” it.
Portion control is key when you’re dieting, so don’t give in to pressure to make your order extra-large. Get the smallest available size of each item you order, or replace certain items – order a burger, for example, and replace the side of fries with a small salad.
Watch for hidden fats.
There may be things adding extra calories to your diet that you don’t even realize. You might order a big salad for lunch, which is great – but if it’s loaded down with cheese, eggs, high-fat dressing, bacon bits, and the like, it becomes a not-so-healthy choice. Your roll might be whole-wheat, but is it glazed with butter? Muffins that sound wholesome and nutritious could be laden with sugar and fat. Often, spotting hidden fats is just a matter of paying more attention to what you’re eating.
Don’t be shy about special orders.
Your health, and feeling good about your food choices, is more important than not feeling like a nuisance – so don’t feel bad about personalizing your order. If you’re ordering an egg dish, ask that it be made with only whites. Substitute greasy bacon for lower-fat lean ham. If your meal comes and it’s not prepared the way you specified, send it back. You’re paying for it, after all, so you should have it exactly the way you want!
Learn the lingo.
If a dish is steamed, broiled, baked, grilled, poached, or roasted, you’re good to go; if the menu says basted, braised, fried, fricasseed, escalloped, sautéed, or stewed … steer clear. If a dish doesn’t specify how it’s made or go into details about the ingredients involved, it never hurts to ask.