Dining Dilemmas

You want to go out with friends but you know that it is harder to control your calorie intake when you dine out. Restaurants were a major stumbling block for me when I was losing my first 100 pounds. It still is difficult for me to control the situation even now. Add alcohol and I have written off many a night which has derailed my weight loss mission.

There is too much salt added to the food even at nice places that a bowl of soup can taste like a salt lick. There is too much oil added to food just because the cook never learned the tricks to cooking without it. Special orders might be the way to go but how many of us have ordered salads with dressing on the side and when the plate comes they have dowsed it with hundreds of calories of dressing.

And don’t get me started on how large the portions are at most eating establishments. I know that you can ask for a doggy bag but when you are chatting it up with friends it is hard to keep track of a normal portion and you just keep eating. In order to offset this some of my friends will ask for a container to come with the meal and put half of it way before they start eating.

Eating out and having fun with friends has changed for me over the last several years. I have learned to speak up when we are choosing a place to dine. I haven’t ordered a full-sized dinner in quite some time, instead I allow myself two items from either the salad, appetizer or soup menus.

Ah dessert, I don’t order one unless I know that several of my friends will help me finish it. On more than one occasion I have left my small portion if it isn’t worth the calories.

And as far as alcohol, well I try not to have any especially if I want a dessert. If I throw caution to the wind and go out and set no limits on how many calories I take in, I know that my next day will have to involve a hearty workout.

I would love to hear some of your tips for eating out.