Eat Out, Eat Smart

So when you are trying to eat healthy or lose weight it may seem more stressful than enjoyable when even contemplating eating out let alone going to a restaurant. But it doesn't need to be. Just like every other aspect of being healthy, you just need to inform yourself. Knowledge is what will keep you in control of what goes into your body and let you have a good time without feeling like you have to ALWAYS get the salad. Which by the way, as I find out more and more about restaurant food, a lot of times the salads have way more calories than the meals. So here are a couple of ways to stay in control of what you are eating and still enjoy eating out.

The first is some wisdom that a friend of mine blogged a while back. She's a fitness trainer, and her words of advice was to choose what you were going to eat BEFORE arriving at the restaurant, and then never opening the menu. It's usually all the choices that get us in trouble. 9 times out of 10, eating right is a mental thing. So win the war before it ever begins. I have done this, and must say it really helps. If I haven't chosen exactly what I am going to eat I narrow them done. Like I know I am going to order grilled chicken, fish or steak, and that fried foods are NOT an option. And then I will look at sides only to narrow down which veggies I want. French fries are NOT an option for me. And just decide before you get there that water is what you are drinking. Now I must say, I do enjoy a good tall glass of iced green tea from Cheesecake Factory on occasion. Real brewed tea is great for you with the antioxidants, and all natural ingredients, but don't get refills, as you will intake too much sugar and too much caffeine. Give yourself room to enjoy but don't over do it. Stay in control. If you know that once you get that tea you won't be able to go back to water after one glass, then don't order it.

Now my next tool to help you in eating out is one of my new favorites. I am learning a ton from their email infos I get. It's the "Eat This, Not That". You wouldn't believe sometimes how many calories, fat and sodium can be in food. Well these guys will tell you. The Eat This, Not That Restaurant Guide is amazing! If you know where you are going before hand, I strongly suggest checking what they do and do not recommend. They will tell you all the nutritional info, which at times will probably shock you. Example, a BBQ grilled chicken wrap from TGIFridays contains over 1500 calories!!! Save yourself the added stress and the added calories and use their website info to make a choice before eating out.