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Dining out...

Please help me. I just went out to breakfast with my boyfriend and literally had a breakdown. I just don't know how to eat out while being healthy. I ended up not eating at all and getting in a fight. Any words of wisdom for dining out while being healthy?

Sat. Nov 4, 11:47am

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breakfast is pretty easy. Ask for 2 poached eggs, dry whole wheat toast, and fruit. Or scrambled egg white, toast, and fruit
most restuants will make what ever you ask for, as long as it does not require any special ingredients.

Or you can go, and get what ever you want and make it you cheat meal that week.

jt

Saturday, November 04, 2006, 11:57 AM

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Breakfast - you're better off with omelets than with pancakes/waffles/muffins. And most places will do it with egg whites only. They're also used to people asking for one egg plus two egg whites by now. Avoid the meats if you can, but if you can't, avoid the sausage. Two strips of bacon are actually not that bad (80 cals), though ham is the best choice. Choose softer cheeses like feta over hard ones like cheddar because there's a 20-30 calories-per-ounce difference.

Are chain restaurants an option for you? Many of them have lite dishes and give nutritional information right on their menus (Friday's, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday's, Applebee's, etc).

If you're going to a steakhouse, check out the calories-per-ounce of your favorite cuts right here in the Calorie Wiki before you go and pick the lowest option. Do not get sauces.

A good guideline for limiting damage is to choose your main course sensibly (nothing in a sauce if possible - they always sneak in a ton of butter/oil), avoid alcohol and the bread basket, and choose either an appetizer OR dessert - ideally to share. It sucks to feel deprived. Then there's the standard advice (which is great!) - have the server wrap half your dish before she brings it to the table. You'll eat what's in front of you, so just make it less.

Saturday, November 04, 2006, 12:06 PM

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Try and go to places that have menus and nutritional info online. This way you can pick out what you want first and wont be tempted by the not so good items.

Saturday, November 04, 2006, 12:07 PM

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Breakfast is realtively easy... Now how about dinner?

I'd like to commiserate with the OP on this question, and not just regarding weight loss. I've been a vegetarian -- and the only vegetarian in my circle of friends -- for a long time, and it's amazing how difficult it is to get some people over the idea that the only good restaurant is a steakhouse. (Which of course have no healthy veggie meal options!) I used to go out with a guy who (a) would not let me pick restaurants, and (b) thought that if the place had ONE veg entree it should be good enough for me. Like he could choose from 30 things, but where I was concerned one choice was fine -- too bad if I don't like stuffed portabellas! Obviously I am no longer with that bf, apparently he had forgotten I had more than one choice of guy in the world.

Honestly, it IS relatively easy to get a "heart healthy" or "low carb" meal at many restaurants. Chicken this, tuna that... But if the OP does not want animal flesh she is probably out of luck.

Saturday, November 04, 2006, 4:26 PM

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My husband and I periodically go out to breakfast together and split a veggie-packed omlette (we get some cheese on the side for him), take a small portion of the overgenerous amount of potatoes that comes with it, and have 1 piece of whole wheat toast (dry) each. I have always loved going out to breakfast and this way we each eat a pretty reasonable portion and still can go out on a semi-regular basis without feeling badly about it. I still make progress and I don't have to give up going out to breakfast which would truly make me sad.

Do stick to your new healthy guns, but definitely come up with some eating out strategies to help smooth over the social situations that you will inevitabley find yourself in. It's definitely best to go in with a plan if possible - especially at first. Now I know enough about food and preparation and my own ability to work it off so that I can make decent choices without much forethought, but in the beginning if I didn't go prepared with what I was going to order I would get frustrated and just eat whatever rather than try to work something out. Also consider that the waitstaff might have some lighter recommendations. Good luck in the future!

Saturday, November 04, 2006, 7:37 PM

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I love going out for breakfast - lots of the places near me serve steel-cut oatmeal (which I'm too lazy to make myself), with yummy things like raisins and nuts in it. Or, 2 poached eggs w/ dry toast and 2 pieces of bacon - 160 cals for the eggs, 80 cals or so per slice of toast (and dip it in the egg yolk - you won't even miss the butter!), and 80 cals for the bacon - a whole breakfast for 320 cals! I'll add to that a cup of coffee w/ some artificial sweetener (okay, judge me...), and I'm good to go! Such a treat!

Otherwise, egg white omelettes are a treat. Use as much veggies as you like. If you like it, lots of places will make omelettes with smoked salmon, which is low cal and a meat, if you like meat. And, lots of places will substitute fresh fruit for greasy hash browns.

As for dinners out, my favorite (though not at all vegetarian) is a hamburger, no bun, and a side of veggies, fruit, or a side salad w/ light dressing on the side. There are often good fish dishes (though ask for the sauce on the side, or for them to hold it completely). As far as vegetarians are concerned, most places have good veggie burgers (again, hold the bun - a bun can have 200 + calories itself! and it doesn't add much!).

Tuesday, November 07, 2006, 4:20 PM

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Most important for me was portion control. I don't do well on "diets" that make me feel deprived. So when I sit down to eat I take a few bites of anything I want. If you have trouble saying no ask for a box before your food comes and put 1/2 or more in it. You don't even have to take it home if you think you will eat it. My husband eats my leftovers, he knows they are always his! =)

Tuesday, November 07, 2006, 4:52 PM

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