Do you find it hard to eat out now?

I know all my posts are about eating out, but I used to eat out all the time! Now, I can't seem to find any healthy choices that are truly healthy!

Do you have a hard time going out to eat now that you are counting calories? What are some things that you get?

Just curious!

It does get frustrating for me when i go to a place that i have never been, or not since i started eating healthy. I always scan the entire menu for the best possible choice i can make...it seems like some places really have nothing healthy what so ever on the menu.

I know people will say to look up their menus in advance, but i don't always have time to do that.

Now if i want to go out to eat, i go somewhere that i know i can pick out something healthy. My favorite is Applebees, since they have a weight watchers menu. Usually when i go out i found that most places serve a grilled chicken dinner and thats usually what i stick to.

If i can't find something healthy, i usually modify something else like veggies instead of fries, mayo on the side, no cheese etc.  or..........

My boyfriend and i end up splitting something to save cals!

Yes, now that I have a better idea of how many calories are in food, I have a much harder time eating out.  It just doesn't feel worth it all the time.

That being said, I often look for some kind of chicken breast meal.  You can usually ask for things pretty plain or on the side.  Grilled chicken is a great option (no skin of course).  Also, grilled chicken sandwiches are an option too.  I often eat only half, and remove the top bun too.  That way I still get some bread flavor, but don't feel that I'm sacrificing the flavor of the food for fewer calories.

I used to think salads were really good to have until I found out how many calories are in the dressings and extras they add to them, so I generally stay away from them.

Overall, I find it's the sauces/oil/butter that things are smothered in that really raise the calorie counts.  So, I tend to be a pretty "plain/on the side" eater when I go out.

UGH yes I know! It gets really irritating when the waiters/waitresses act like they don't know why you ask for another potato when you clearly asked for a plain one!

Most of the restraunts around here have grilled chicken meals, but as I have been looking them up, they aren't as low-cal as I thought!

I think I will try applebees though, or at least look it up! I didn't even think about that.

Yup Applebees is a great choice. There is quite a few options on the weight watchers menu, i usually get the steak and portebellos which is my favorite. Of course the portions are a lot smaller, but they are all really good!!

My favorite places are obviously ones that serve easy low cal choices. Subway, Saladworks, my deli that has fresh made sandwiches and a veggie/salad/fruit bar.
When it comes to bad places.. it gets harder. ALWAYS ask if they can sub out the sides.. no butter.. dressing/sauce on the side. Splitting a meal is a great option, if you have someone to do it with. If you order a salad, you can almost always specify which toppings you want-- and if you ask them to substitute it out, you can end up with a 'customized' salad! You can also customize wraps, etc.. anyone that serves a "Super Special Turkey Club" will also serve you a turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato.

Otherwise I tend to get whatever looks good, and then just take home half of it. =)

 

I went through the food list looking for healthy alternatives at any restaurant that is listed.  The ones I didn't find here, I went directly to their website for nutritional information.  If they don't list it, I take that as a bad sign and stay away!!!!

Here are some of the items I have tagged as healthier choices:

Ruby Tuesday--salad bar--I didn't see anything else on their menu that is remotely healthy!

McDonald's--(hey, I have two kids, no choice but to go sometimes!) Classic Grilled Chicken sandwich, no mayo, then I add mustard.  I also don't eat fries at all.  This sandwich is 420 calories, so that is plenty!

Wendy's--small chili and plain baked potato (add some of the chili to the potato for more flavor!), or grilled chicken sandwich w/ no mayo, as before.

Mexican Restaurant--shrimp cocktail, or cocktail de camarones (many have this), which is made with v8, salsa, pico de gallo, shrimp and avacado.  I worked out the calories to about 450, which is a lot, but the serving is plenty to split and take home for later if you want, and it's yummy!  Plus, I learned pretty quickly I can't keep away from the chips, so I take 5 and place them on a napkin, and then break them into little pieces and dip each one into the salsa.  By the time I have eaten all the pieces, my food has usually come, and I stop.  If not, then I get a couple more, but my limit is 10.

Also, when you go to a restaurant, ask if they have nutritional information for their foods.  Unfortunately, I think only the fast food restaurants are required to have it available right now, but hopefully we will begin to see other restaurants with it, too!

Hope this helps!  

 

Ruby Tuesdays has a smarter eating menu but you have to specifically ask for it! I really like eating there actually i usually get the 7oz steak(it is very well trimmed of fat) there green beans and the tomato and mozzerela salad. the whole thing is less than 500 cals and I can fit that in easy for a very filling great tasting dinner. check out their smart eating menu on the webiste, all of their sides are listed seperate so you can pick how many cals you want to spend.

Oh that mexican restraunt chip idea is fantastic! haha. I always blow it with the salsa!

Me and my mom are going to eat today. I think I am gonna shoot for applebees or panera. Yumm.

I love Ruby Tuesday I have only been twice so i am not an expert but the broiled talipia was very light and came with steamed brocolli I also had a pan seared Crab Cake which had no cake!

Also Applebees menu is very lo cal but lacks taste sometimes.

true, true. I love ruby tuesdays! I love the soup and salad...even though the soup isn't good for me the salad is!

Just wanted to give a BIG thank you to well, you! I ate at applebee's today and had the Italian Chicken Portebello Mushroom sandwhich from the WW menu. It was amazing. And the fruit was so fresh. ANDDD-it was only 360 calories! and 11 g fiber! I am so pleased with my choice! Thanks!

After working at a restaurant practically nothing is healthy.  I worked at TGIF and almost nothing is made fresh. There's MSG in items.  You'd be forever grossed out of fried food if you see what they use to fry it.  The people in the kitchen tend to not care so they throw extra calories in by compensating w/ extra grease or cheese if they make something wrong.  I don't trust any restaurants.  It's very hard too.  Plus bigger is better. So portions are huge now a days.  It's insane.  Although I did find a local mom and pop that makes vegan entrees and uses organic ingredients.  I was way stoked.  I gave up on eating out.  You ask a million questions give a million special instructions and they still get it wrong.

I find it funny and kinda sad that a tomatoe, lettuce and grilled chicken salad from McDonald's has around 200 calories.. I know it's not that much, but for me it's a lot for just a salad!

That's why I prefer going to non-fast food restaurants. If you explain to the staff that you're under a diet regimen they'll usually understand and you can ask 'em to not to serve bread on the table, and serve balsamic vinegar instead of oil and fatty dressings.

And sushi is a good, healthy and fast option too. I don't know if you like it (I personally love it!), but an average roll of sushi has around 150-200 calories (I mean the 8 or 10 pieces). And it contains lots of nutritients and specially FISH which is an excellent Omega-3 source (:

I was just going to mention sushi!  Beacuase of my work and I dont always have time to prepare lunch the night before or in the am I am often forced to eat out.  I have found that sushi works great!!  Usually pretty easy to find a good place now and its a quick healthy lunch. 

Well, I never eat at fast food restaurants, but at other restuarants I've figured out how to get 500 cal dinners from most places.  Noodles and Co, Panera Bread, Chipotle, etc.  Some places, like Macaroni Grill or Unos are a little more difficult.

The only place I allow myself to eat at is Subway, because I know that I can easily count the calories.

Even at places with "healthy" menus, it's hard because I'm used to only eating a couple (hundred) calories at a time now, so the portion sizes are too big.

I WISH I liked sushi. Fish in general actually. I should probably be taking fish oil capsules or something bc I hate seafood.

But I love panera and Subway. And I know I can eat for low calories there. Also, like I said above the Applebee's weight watchers menu is good.

I refuse to even go to mcdonald's or any fast food restraunt for a while. I'm not depriving myself so to speak, just trying to break a terrible habit!

I agree about the sushi--yum!  Thanks for that tip about Ruby Tuesday!  I went there on Sunday, and got the salad bar, then logged my calories afterward, and my salad ended up being 569 calories!!!!!!!  I used spinach leaves, hb egg, edamame, chickpeas, carrots, cukes, a few black olives, green peppers, grape tomatoes--I eat a spinach salad almost every day, and the ingredients were not that different, but I guess I underestimated the calorie count for edamame and chickpeas, which I don't usually use but love. 

I have to keep reminding myself that a "splurge" now is nothing like before.  I used to make hot fudge cake here at home, and to the tune of about 1000 calories per serving!  I think my new lifestyle can handle a few legumes on my salad!     

I know exactly how you feel! I get mad at myself if I isread the serving size on my whole grain fiber packed crackers! haha. 100 calories more or those is sooo much better than my old dieting ways!

Sheesh I cringe at the thought of my old ways!

I can't eat out because I can't afford to anymore!