My Tips for Eating Healthy When Dining Out

Hello, hello!

My weekend flew by, Monday was a very busy day, and now here we are and it’s Tuesday already. Over the weekend, I was quite the lunchin’ lady, with two restaurant get togethers on my agenda. One date was catching up with my first friend that I made as a Marine Corps wife, and the other was meeting a new friend for the first time who I had connected with via social media.

Dining out can be challenging if you’re trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, so I wanted to share with you some things that I do to maintain a healthy diet when eating out. Let’s get to it!

Tip #1 – All in moderation: If you want to enjoy something indulgent, I say go for it. I think that you should be able to have your cake and eat it too…. but preferably, that cake is a small slice.

In example: I kicked off my weekend with a late lunch date at a cute, casual place called Cafe Elysa in the beach town of Carlsbad. The menu offered salads, sandwiches, and lots of breakfast. I really was in the mood for chocolate chip pancakes, but I knew that some veggies were in order since I hadn’t eaten any yet that day. It was also later in the day and I was super hungry, so I compromised with myself and got a single pancake along with a salad. It was a perfect combo of satisfying my yen while also getting in some greens.

Tip #2 – Only eat half: Make a habit of not wiping your plate clean. More often than not, restaurant portions are too much than you really need to eat in one sitting. Instead of munching away when I’m not hungry anymore, I try to be mindful of where my hunger level is at. Usually after I eat half of the meal, I’m no longer hungry. Take the other half home, and BOOM, you have leftovers for another day.

Tip #3 – Indulge, but then get back on track: I’ve read a lot of articles that suggest you choose 1-2 things to “splurge” on during a meal out. It’s not that I totally disagree with this suggestion, it’s just that I don’t think it’s always realistic. Here’s why: If I’m at a nice restaurant, drinking a glass of wine, longingly staring at a basket of fresh bread deciding if I can eat a piece of it because I also think I might want dessert afterwards, I feel deprived. In that scenario, too much energy is going into thinking about indulging in a treat meal, instead of just enjoying that meal.

I’d rather go out to the nice restaurant, drink the wine, eat the bread, and have my dessert too, then be done with it. The key goes back to moderation in terms of portion control: I eat one piece of bread, not 3; I drink 1-2 glasses of wine, not 4; and I’ll either get a small cup of fro yo or split one with my hubby. That way I can have it all if I really want it!

Tip #4 – Pick healthy restaurants: If the restaurant choice is at all up to you, do some research beforehand and pick a place with healthy options. This way, you know that you won’t be hangry at the restaurant with nothing but deep fried menu options to choose from. Don’t be afraid to speak up and say that you’d like to go somewhere healthier!

In example: For my lunch date on Sunday, we chose to meet at True Food Kitchen. I’d been there before and adore the menu, as there are so many healthy options to choose from. I knew that I would be able to get a green juice if I wanted to, and I certainly did!

Tip #5 – Scope the menu out beforehand: Going along with tip #4, do some quick research. Check the menu online, and see what’ll be available for you. This helps me to plan my day of eating accordingly. For instance, if I know that my only options at a restaurant that night will be pizza or pasta, to keep things balanced I won’t eat any cheese that day beforehand.

Also, a lot of bigger restaurants have nutrition information posted online, so if you’re dieting or calorie conscious, you can scope it out beforehand. Sometimes a little planning can go a long way.

Tip #6 – Get the dressing on the side: This tip is one that I’ve been doing ever since I can remember. I don’t enjoy salad completely drenched in dressing, and it’s healthier to get it on the side and add in the amount that I want.

Tip #7 – Go for a post-meal walk:  Sure, this one doesn’t have to do with the actual dining out part, but I’m including it anyways because I love walking around after dining out. After enjoying a meal and catching up with my friend on Friday, I headed home to take care of a few things, change into walking gear, pick up my little family, and go for a walk along the coast.

If you’re out and about in a pretty area, walking around prolongs your date and gives you time to enjoy yourself more and to see more of the area. Plus, if all else fails and you’ve overindulged, taking a walk after your meal will get your moving and help you to digest your food.

Personally, since I work from home and cook a lot, I don’t eat out that much. On average, I’d say I go out to eat once every week or two. I like to look at dining out as a treat and something that I look forward to. As much as I love cooking, it’s nice to relax and have a pro cook me a delicious meal sometimes!

Do you eat out often? Do you have any favorite tips to add to my list?