Restaurant Warefare

Life is busy these days.  I find if I don't plan ahead I can end up starving and the McDonalds drive through looks all too tempting!  Or it seems like every event in life is celebrated with a trip to a restaurant, and it's easy to blow a day's worth of calories in one meal!  Here are some helpful tips we've compiled to combat restaurant blunders.

Jenn suggests:

• Instead of an entree, try an appetizer and a side salad!
• If fast food is a must, try a kids meal.  A lot of fast food restaurants also offer some healthier options like fruit and yogurt as sides instead of fries.
• Have a plan before you go.  Maybe look up the menu online so you know what to order when you get to the restaurant.
• Don't go starving!  Eat a small smack before hand.
• There are always options!  Most all restaurants make chicken, vegetables, rice, baked potatoes, maybe even fruit.  Don't be afraid to speak up and order what you want even if it's not specifically on the menu.
• Try to avoid the bread basket...or the chip basket.....you'll fill up on these before your meal. 
• Substitute a side salad with low fat dressing or a vegetable instead of fries.  
• Avoid menu items that state "fried", "breaded", "augratin", "rich", "crispy", "smothered", "alfredo", etc.  Stick to baked, broiled, grilled.

Sarah Suggests:

• Avoid fast food restaurants whenever possible.  Seriously, the healthy options are far and few between and if you stay within your calorie limits you are very likely to be hungry way too soon.
• Ask for the waitress to bring you a box with your meal so you can box half of it up, set it aside before you are tempted to eat it all!
• If you get a salad, baked potato, etc. always ask for your dressing, butter, sour cream, etc to be served on the side.
• Dip your fork in salad dressing and then have a bit of  salad, instead of dumping a 1/2 cup of dressing on your salad.
• Ask a lot of questions!  Sometimes "healthy" options are not so healthy when it's swimming in a pool of butter.  Ask how things are made, and don't be afraid to ask them to prepare it a little differently.
• Bewere of the salad bar!  There are a ton of healthy options on there, but a few too many trips or croutons as big as your head and  you are going to be wayyy over on your calories :-) Try to do one-trip visits and avoid all you can eat establishments.  
• Carry a little utensil set in your car.  If you are really in a bind, run into the grocery store and pick up a yogurt & salad.  Something that's actually made with real food.  I've had some fantastic salads from Hy-Vee and Schnucks (and I'm sure Lucky's too, I've just never been there :-))
• Keep some food in your purse or bag.  I always keep some Lara bars in my car, then if I'm running errands after class I'm not tempted by junk food.  

What do you do to make the most of your restaurant visits?