Dining out should be a treat. After all, someone else is doing the cooking and the cleanup and you just get to enjoy the experience without a care in the world.
But what if you’re on a healthy-living journey and you’re not sure what you should and shouldn’t eat? No worries, I’m here to help!
As someone who travels A LOT, I usually eat out a couple times per week. I’ve gotten to be a pro at determining which menu items are your best shot for staying on track and which ones are better left behind. The good news is you can still enjoy delicious food without feeling deprived. Let’s check out your options.
What to Choose
- Healthy preparation. Broiled, steamed, grilled, and roasted are the preparation words you’re looking for when it comes to meat or veggies.
- Reasonable serving sizes. The ideal serving size for meats is about the size of your palm.
- Nutrient-dense carbs. Carbohydrates are not your enemy, but certain options like french fries, white bread, and dinner rolls should be avoided. Your healthiest choices are brown rice, sweet potatoes, and quinoa.
- Gifts from Mother Earth. Veggies and greens can and should take up a large part of your plate — just make sure not to drown them in butter or creamy sauces.
What to Lose
- White sugar. If it has white sugar in it, please remove it from your plate. I believe white sugar is toxic to your body and eating out does not make it magically healthy. (wink) If you must indulge your sweet tooth, order sorbet, take along some Cacao Bliss Travel Packs to blend up a decadent chocolate drink, or enjoy just a bite or two of the restaurant’s dessert.
- Cream-based dressings and sauces. These can take a dish from healthy to diet-destroying in an instant. Instead, opt for condiments like balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Large portion sizes. Restaurants are known for serving up meals large enough for two people, so pack away half as soon as it’s delivered to your table and save it for the next day. Or, save money and split the meal with your dining partner. Either way, you’ll have plenty to enjoy while you’re eating out.
These are some of my top tips for eating out, but you can learn even more by reading this blog post. And remember, if you do overindulge while eating out, it’s important to give yourself grace. One meal will not undo a long-game healthy-eating plan. Just get back on track starting with the next meal and take a little extra time to prep and plan before your next meal out.
If you’d like continued guidance on eating healthy, plus access to hundreds of delicious, healing recipes, I invite you to check out my membership-only group, Fit Rise 365, risk-free. Hope to see you inside!
You may also be interested in:
Top 5 Foods Healthy Restaurant Foods That Probably Aren’t
7 Tips for Eating Healthy While Traveling
What I Eat in a Day (weekend meal plan)