Does Eating Out Ruin Your Progress?
Eating out while on your nutrition or fitness journey can be intimidating, overwhelming, and maybe even a little scary - but it doesn’t have to be.
When I first started eating to fuel my body, I began learning to eat foods that would help me reach my goals and make my body feel good - meaning eating out was definitely out of the question!
All of those oils and preservatives were an immediate red flag. And even if I wanted to eat out, I didn’t know what else they were using in their recipes, making it that much tougher to track the calories in My Fitness Pal.
What I didn’t take into consideration is that eating out is part of our lifestyle. Simple as that. So, eating out needed to be in a way that I could stay on track and be social, have a good time, and still have the pizza every now and then!
Through (a ton) of trial and error, I found a few ways to make life easier when eating out, and now I share these same tips with my clients that I know will go a long way! Ready for them?
Review the menu in advance This will help you not feel pressured to make a last-minute decision and so you aren’t stressed out about trying to make the foods work for you while the waiter stares at you (yikes)
Take 1/2 of your meal to go from the start A lot of the time, we will finish our meal or plate just because it’s in front of us! We tend to snack and talk the longer we’re at the table or just because we aren’t mindful. Take half for later and have the same amazing meal, twice.
Obvs, try not to go for fried food, but how about them chips for the appetizer? Just a couple right? Learn how to discipline yourself if you really need those appetizers or can you save the 300-400 calories for your meal instead? Pass the appetizer and you’ll feel so in control, no guilt or bloat needed.
Find a way to get your veggies in and eat them FIRST! This is a game changer. Whether it be a side salad, veggies in your burrito, or mixing your veggies with the beans on your plate - how can you get your MICROnutrients in, stay full longer, AND prevent overeating?! Finding your veggies. Start small. Maybe even getting vegetables as a side is a start. Keep it up and your body will start to crave what it needs!
Eating out doesn’t have to be stressful or something we feel anxious around. We can balance anything and everything. What a sense of freedom.