Eating Out 101

OK Class, time for a lesson on eating out while you are trying to eat healthy.  Sometimes menus can be deceiving and it is good to completely read the menu and vet out all your choices rather than make a game time decision.  That can be dangerous especially if you are starving by the time you order; it may sabotage your intention for the night.  Prepping to eat out should include a full review of the online menu.  It is even better if you can find nutritional information but sometimes that isn't possible, specifically when it is a local restaurant and not a chain (restaurants are required to include nutritional info in certain states so most chains just do it for all).  Sometimes an appetizer is the best choice with a house salad (dressing on the side).  The portion is usually smaller and most entrees could feed 3 people (and of course if you are like me…you would eat all 3 servings by yourself).  If you really want an entrée, my suggestion is to ask for a takeout container when your entrée comes to the table and before you even take a bit, put half of it in the container…then Bon Appetite :) 

When looking at an item on the menu remember you can alter them.  You can get a cobb salad, just ask for it without bacon and with the cheese and dressing on the side (I HEART CHEESE so I’d add just a little).   You can get the chicken entree just ask for it without the cheese and instead of mashed potatoes ask for greens (dressing on the side) or a side veggie (prepared without butter).  Restaurants use butter on nearly everything so if you tell the waiter that you would prefer to omit the butter they are usually very accommodating.   

OK…now you've made your choice early in the day when you weren't hungry so when you get to the restaurant, make sure your item is on the menu then CLOSE THE MENU!!!  Don’t look at anything else!! J  One more note…the freebie on the table at some restaurants?? bread and/or tortilla chips??  Don’t Touch Them!!!!  Unless they are worked into your choice – LOL.  When we go to Bertucci’s I order a cup of the minestrone soup (180 Calories) for my dinner so I can have 2 of their rolls.  It is SO WORTH IT!!!  Make the conscious choice – don’t mindlessly eat stuff.  Most importantly remember you are there to spend time with people not to sabotage your healthy progress.  RIGHT>!?!?

Tonight I am prepping for a business dinner outing.  We are heading to Heavy Seas Ale House (I've heard good things about this place).  I pulled up the menu online and discovered this restaurant is not known for it’s healthy choices...haha.  Everything has bacon and cheese on it but looks really yummy.  I found this area of the menu which seems better than others (no nutritional info on the website since it is a local place).

I really want the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (it has bacon in it…I’ll ask if it can be omitted but if not I still want it).  I’m very picky about my crab cakes so I’m not sure about that item...but the fennel salad looks really yummy.   I’ll probably end up with the soup and the  Chopped Salad (dressing and cheese on the side - no olives) but may ask after the Crab Cake (no bacon) to see what the server says…hoping he/she is a local and will give me an honest opinion.  So that is my plan…I will take a brief look at the menu when I get there then move on to the conversation.  Oh and I will probably have a glass of wine.  Yes Yes I know it is an ale house but I am not a microbrew girl. 

I’ll check in either later tonight or tomorrow morning…
TTFN
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P.S. just found this after a second glance at the menu.  This Salmon has a high probability of happening :)  Sans Soup but I may still have a side salad :)