5 Ways To Order Healthy Choices At Restaurants

Have you ever gone out to eat at a restaurant with the intent of eating healthy, only to get there and be completely at a loss on what to order? Feeling overwhelmed with the choices, you then cave and order that burger, fries, and milkshake – because you’ve already blown it, right?

Don’t get me wrong, having balance in your life is important. What’s also important, however, is having the ability to confidently order food from a restaurant that is conducive to your goals.

We’re all busy – whether with school, work, social events, travel, etc., the list goes on. When you’re busy it’s not always possible to meal prep every day. The good news is you can still make major headway towards your goals while eating out at a restaurant.

Here are some tips and tricks I like to use to help me stay on track with my goals.

1. Eat a little snack

Often, when we know that we have a dinner planned for the night we eat less throughout the day in anticipation for that dinner. By the time you sit down to have our meal, you’re starving so, the bread basket, appetizers, and fried meals look delicious.

Your body is telling you to eat. So instead of going to the restaurant feeling like you need to eat everything in sight, have a protein rich snack like this Dymatize Elite Protein Bar before you leave the house. Try a scoop of protein with almond milk, a couple of hard boiled eggs, or a few slices of deli meat. This will keep hunger at bay and help stabilize blood sugar so that you will be able to order from the menu with your mind – not your stomach!

2. Order a lean meat

Since restaurants almost always cook in oil you want to avoid fatty meat options. This can be anything from grilled chicken to white fish, to an egg white omelet with veggies. The protein will leave you feeling full and satisfied, and will most likely not even taste like you are eating a ‘healthier’ option.

3. Get smart with side orders

Nix your calorie dense side (bread, pasta, fries, sautéed veggies, etc) and replace them with fresh fruit, steamed veggies, or steamed rice.

– RELATED: How To Stay In Shape During BBQ Season –

4. Think “volume”

Opt for foods that you can eat in big portions because they are low in calories. Volume eating is something I practice often because it leaves you feeling full and satisfied, all while getting in your micro nutrients.

For example, ordering a side salad with your meal will help with satiety. If you do order a salad, be sure to ask for the dressing on the side (dressings can range between 100-200 calories) and dip your fork in the dressing before each bite! Good low-calorie dressings include: balsamic vinegar, oil, and vinegar, lemon, light dressings.

5. Drink lots of water

This will help you stay you full throughout the meal and also help to avoid water retention (ironically) because restaurants generally use a high amount of sodium in their meals.

Overall, ordering out is not something we should feel anxious about and we should never feel the need to avoid it because we don’t want to derail our goals. You can stay on track and have a balanced lifestyle, so don’t be afraid to enjoy a night out for dinner!