We love to eat out, that’s a fact. For one, eating out means you do not have to worry about what to make for lunch or dinner, as the case may be. Better yet, it is always such a relief to be waited upon at fancy restaurants.
Children’s little feet scamper to the food table when the family goes out for a special lunch or dinner. Especially when it’s at an all-you-can-eat buffet. I have seen this trend with mine and most times I join in the fun!
However, lately I’ve been watching my weight, so I’m slowly loosening the grip fast food companies have on me. It is so easy to pile on the weight, but it is a herculean task to get rid of it. When we return home after one of our our “eat out” meals, I would realise I had stuffed myself with so many calories, enough to survive on for a week. Then I would start using excuses to remain at home, because I had zero control. I soon discovered that staying at home when everyone else goes out was not the way to go. I constantly had to remind myself why I am on the weight watching program in the first instance. I was determined to find a way to enjoy myself and not return home with more calories than necessary.
Here’s how I do it:
Know the menu before-hand
Find out what type of food you would like to eat and where you can get them. Sometimes you have no control over what is being served at the restaurants you visit. If it is a restaurant that has an online presence, kindly do yourself a favour by checking them out or even calling to know what is on the menu. I am a seafood fan and I try as much as I can to visit restaurants where these are part of the regular menu. Look out for a menu that has a wide variety of salads as well, to spice things up a little.
Don’t be hungry when you arrive
When you eat out usually you want to get full value for your money, hence you ensure you are hungry so that nothing will be left to waste. But for weight-watchers, the catch is to fill your tummy with a little water before you go, that way, the remaining space in your tummy can only accommodate a little. It is also not a sin to skip dessert.
Get your fill of fruits and vegetables
If you have these available at the restaurant, add them to your selection! I have been on a fruit and vegetable diet and have lost some weight in the process.As a matter of fact, some studies show that some fruits and vegetables are better for your waistline. Consuming more fruits – berries, apples, and pears specifically – and non-starchy vegetables, like soybeans and cauliflower, may help you lose weight quickly and keep it off in the long term.
Increase the flow of water
Water is your best friend in this battle against the jelly tummy. It cleanses your palate as you eat and also aids your digestion, better than wine. If you want to jazz it up a bit, request slices of lemon and cucumbers to add to it.
If the occasion arises where you do not have a say as to the venue, you can always put your discipline cap on. Remember, you are the only person responsible for how you look. If you want to love what stares back at you in the mirror then you really should be more determined to eat healthier, at home or anywhere else.
Stay healthy…Stay fit.
