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Thread: resturant meals

  1. #1
    Lola Rose
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    Default resturant meals

    so...... another thread for our october workout mania!

    I have been having a hard time w/ eating out. there are so many hidden calories, even in salads and things. and really, a salad doesn't fill me up. but i don't want to give up eating out, and i only do it about 2-3x a week.

    I'm already asking for all sauces on the side, and avoiding fried foods.... but what are some other ideas to cut resturant calories?

    oh, and maybe suggestions of meals that are usually low fat?

  2. #2
    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    When I order out, I also ask for a take-home box right as I order. That way, as soon as my food is brought to the table, I divide it in half, and put half in the box right away. Restaurant portions are so out of control they often bring to the table two or three times the amount of what you should be eating.

  3. #3
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    ^^^ I do that too, plus I feel better about the cost because I'm getting two meals out of it. I like to go to Asian places for steamed tofu and veg, or I go out for soup. Some Italian restaurants have whole-wheat pasta, like the Macaroni Grill, where I get whole-wheat penne in an arrabiata sauce with spinach, artichokes, and whole cloves of roasted garlic.

    The main thing you have to watch out for in American restaurants is the unlimited free bread. Tons o' white flour, sugar, and butter, right there on the table for you to fill up on. It's best just to tell them you don't want any bread at all and not to let them put it on the table, because if it's there, you can't help nibbling at it.

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    Member raspberry ice's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    One solution is to eat only at restaurants that have nutrition information posted on their website. Luckily, this includes most pizza places, fast food joints, and national chains like Olive Garden. At other restaurants, just order a garden salad with no dressing -- the only salad I've found that is universally free from hidden ingredients.

    You can save non-chain restaurants for special occasions when you'd normally allow yourself some "free" calories.

  5. #5
    God/dess krchab99's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    I find apple bees great for eating healthy there whight watchers menu is tasty and has all nutrition posted

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    Featured Member NatalieFRPhilly's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    If you eat at lunch times, you can get lighter options like half a sandwich and a cup of soup and that would be lower calories. Or get a grilled chicken salad with the dressing on the side. If you get the dressing on the side you control how much you use.

  7. #7
    Kaylinn
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    Ask how they prepare things, and request it be prepared in a healthier way.

    Definatly box up half right away.

    I often order off the kids menu, most places will allow you if you ask. Thoes portions are much smaller.

  8. #8
    Glamazon
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    Quote Originally Posted by krchab99 View Post
    I find apple bees great for eating healthy there whight watchers menu is tasty and has all nutrition posted
    I love the Applebee's Weight Watcher's menu!! Chili's also has their "Guiltless Grill" selections, which are very tasty!

    Eating out at restaurants is still a treat for me when I'm trying to lose weight, so I would save it for a cheat day.

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    Default Re: resturant meals

    i'd eat out once a week and not worry about calories, if i were dieting. much easier than stressing over whether they spritzed the salad with oil when you weren't looking.

  10. #10
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    um. thanks, but that has nothing to do with the question ^^

  11. #11
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    Broth based soups are usually good to fill you up without a lot of fat.

    When ordering look for words like Grilled, Marinated, Baked...usually less fat then stuff that is fried or sauteed

  12. #12
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    ^^^ Avoid the word "crispy." Restaurants rarely use the word "fried" anymore but they love to tell you how crispy the yummy fried foods are. Nothing described as crispy on a restaurant menu is going to be good for you (though it will probably be delicious).

  13. #13
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    sneeky sneeky!!!!!

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    Member raspberry ice's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    The Chicken noodle soup at almost any restaurant is one of the least caloric options, I do believe.

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    Default Re: resturant meals

    ^^^^Veggie soup is actually your best bet. The egg noodles can pack in some calories.

    Start your meal with a salad (dressing on the side) or broth-based soup.

    Divide your meal before it gets to you. Have the server box it before it hits the table. The more you see, the more you eat.

    Be careful how it's prepared. Butter and oil make everything taste better, so they're likely to come on your "steamed" broccoli.

    Sauces: avoid, if at all possible. They're just fat or sugar. Or both.

    Portions! Restaurant portions are 2-3x largr than the serving suggestion. Learn to eyeball portions.
    A serving of meat is a deck of cards.
    A cup of pasta is the size of your fist.
    Bread should be the size of a cassette tape.
    Etc and so on.

  16. #16
    God/dess Corgan's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    i love eating out, but here recently the bf and i have started eating at this organic cafe... where nothing on the menu has trans fat. lots of meals are vegan/vegetarian... those meals would be a good bet!

  17. #17
    Member raspberry ice's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    Vegetable soup *is* a good choice if you can find plain veggie soup instead of the more popular vegetable beef, which is usually made with really fatty meat.

  18. #18
    buffie06
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    Seriously, I was on a major diet and my husband and I were addicted to Chilis for some reason, anyways I always got grilled chicken and corn, thought I was doing reallly well. look at their website!!! my point: if you dont know what is in it>>>>DONT EAT IT! Other than that , eat a healty snack before you go out to dinner. You might feel fuller and want less (but still opt for the lettuce salad, light dressing on the side) DONT FORGET the Vodka and soda, b/c I sure as hell am not satsfied with the above,

  19. #19
    Senior Member Noneya's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    Quote Originally Posted by krchab99 View Post
    I find apple bees great for eating healthy there whight watchers menu is tasty and has all nutrition posted
    Quote Originally Posted by Glamazon View Post
    I love the Applebee's Weight Watcher's menu!! Chili's also has their "Guiltless Grill" selections, which are very tasty!

    Eating out at restaurants is still a treat for me when I'm trying to lose weight, so I would save it for a cheat day.
    I love the Onion Soup au Gratin at Applebee's! Delicious and only 150 calories/8g of fat. Yumm! Yes, they have very tasty yet healthy options.

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    Default Re: resturant meals

    Quote Originally Posted by Lola Rose View Post
    um. thanks, but that has nothing to do with the question ^^
    eating out 'only' three times a week is why you have to worry about calories so much when you dine out. so it, uh, kinda does

  21. #21
    Featured Member Sunshine73's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    You all are making me want to go to Applebee's.
    Quote Originally Posted by Picaresque View Post
    Maria Callas said it best: "When my critics stop hissing, I shall know I'm slipping."

  22. #22
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    Quote Originally Posted by miabella View Post
    eating out 'only' three times a week is why you have to worry about calories so much when you dine out. so it, uh, kinda does
    w/e.....you obviously missed my point. how to still be healthy in a resturant is just a good thread period.

  23. #23
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    i did the chillis thing for a while. I just add pico to the chicken and it tastes even better.

    Also, i eat ahi tuna a ton and it is really tasty and healthy. You just have to hold the heavy sauces.


    Oh, and i thought mia's response was related to the thread. Am i missing something?

  24. #24
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    I was looking for ideas to STILL be able to eat out, but to also eat healthy.

  25. #25
    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: resturant meals

    If LR eats out 3 times a week regulrarly, NOT eating out isn't really an option. It becomes part of your lifestyle, so if, when dieting, you suddenly don't allow yourself to eat out, I know most people would end up binge eating or something. There are ways to eat out and still lose weight.

    Some other tips:
    A lot of non-chain restaurants are willing to cook a lot fo the food on their menu differently. A little Italian restaurant has this delicious battered and fried fish, with some kind of sauce. I always ask them to broil it instead, with no batter and no sauce, and they're happy to do it for me, so don' be afraid to ask for ahealthier cooked option- the worst they can say is no.

    Don't fall into liquid calories. That was always my biggest pitfall, getting a margarita or something with dinner. Depending on the place, that one drink can have over 500 calories.

    Before I eat, I drink a tall glass of water. That seems to help curb my appetite before I ever start. This is why having a broth based soup first helps you eat less of your entree.

    Order first. I know there have been times where I decided to order the grilled chicken breast with veggies...and then the person next to me would order bbq ribs or something and mashed potatoes, and I would change my mind to that. By ordering first, you don't impulse-order.

    You don't have to eat all the courses! I come from a family that has the mentality "if you eat out, you need to get your money's worth!", so if a side or a course was included, I had to order it and eat it. That's a hard mentality to shake. But if you aren't hungry, don't order that extra course or dessert. You may not be getting your money's worth, but I think it's worth it to be slimmer.

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