Eat Healthier by Ordering Off Menu Dishes

The sight and smell of restaurant food can be distracting when you’re trying to make healthy food choices, so plan ahead and whenever possible make your food decisions before you arrive. Remember that you can always ask your server to assist with making your meals healthier when eating out. Most chefs allow diners to order off menu and will prepare a savory dish with healthy food choices similar to those you use at home. Generally speaking, it is a good idea to abstain from all the complimentary offerings like bread, chips, or crackers.

Instead of ordering a sweetened drink, ask for a glass of water with a slice of lemon or lime. Drinking a glass of water before a meal is always a healthy option. Whether you’re eating in or dining out, taste your food before adding salt, butter, dressings, or sauces. Even small amounts of these culprits can add up quickly. Substitute healthier options like mustard, lemon juice, or pepper.

Common sense should tell you that ordering an all-you-can-eat dish makes it easy to eat more food than you may have intended to. Try these strategies for better managing your experience when dining out:

• Japanese – Eating at a Japanese restaurant can be tricky. Picking the right sauces can be crucial. Pick teppanyaki dishes cooked on an iron griddle over teriyaki where the sauce can contain a lot of added sugar.
• Mexican – When you’re eating Mexican food, enchiladas are typically loaded with saturated fat and refine carbohydrates and should be avoided. Grilled lean proteins and vegetables with soft tacos and black beans are better options for eating healthy.
• Chinese – It you are craving orange chicken then prepare it in your own kitchen using healthier methods for preparation. The crispy texture and sweet sauce in most Chinese restaurants is loaded with fats, carbs, and sugar. Plus, you can prepare a better version of fried rice that’s loaded with healthier ingredients.
• Indian – Although chicken tikka is one of the most ordered Indian entrees, the modern recipe can contain lots of calories that come from the ghee and heavy cream ingredients. However, native Indian food with less sugar and carbs is one of the most wholesome foods.
• Italian – On most menus at Italian restaurants there is whole section devoted to healthier options for a variety of dietary needs. Unfortunately, the unlimited breadsticks are most diners Waterloo.

Eating healthier revolves around making smarter choices as you rebuild your overall dietary pattern of food consumption. By focusing on the same wants and needs, you can dine out without sacrifice to your commitment for living well. All restaurants feature proteins on their menu. Leaner sources of protein like seafood and shellfish as well as premium cuts of meats like flank steak and tenderloin. Along with chicken breasts, these are healthy options when baked or grilled.

At MRC, our weight loss specialist will be teaching you through our menus using delicious recipes that allow you to eat real foods in a way that fuels your metabolism. You will feel in full control of your commitment for living a healthier life. When you work with a weight loss specialist at MRC, one bad day doesn’t mean you are going to spiral back into the cycle weight gain that you may have experienced before. We provided the support and encouragement to keep living well on track.