This is a word the weight watchers would actually hate to hear. But for many they are pleasurable and some inevitable. I have always seen my clients come back and tell me that they put on weight when they usually eat out. I do not agree with them completely.
Yes, there is definitely fatter present in the restaurant food than home. It's also the healthy food choices that you need to make for the food to not show on the tummy.
Here are a few examples at certain restaurants that you do to make your meal options healthy.
Udupi/South Indian Restaurant
- Have idlis with sambar other than the chutneys.
- Do not top it up with the vada. Keep the meal simple.
- Ask for the dosas or utappams with less oil or to be made without oil.
- Do not indulge in the yummy pooris.
- Khara bath can be a good option unless they are very oily.
Chinese Restaurants
- Start your meal with a clear soup; do not indulge in creamy soups.
- Reduce the portion size of the starters that you consume.
- Ask for the steamed ones instead of the fried ones
- Eat steamed rice, noodles instead of fried rice, noodles.
- Request the chef or when you place an order to cook your food with minimum oil.
- Check on the method of preparation of the food, check if he vegetables or meat is fried in oil before adding it into the gravy. So that you can have smaller portions of it as your share if not avoid it.
Mughlai Restaurants
- Grilled kebabs are a healthier option than fried kebabs.
- Opt. for the tandoor rotis instead of the parathas with excess oil/butter.
- Select simple gravies instead of the makani (butter) gravies.
Italian/Mexican Restaurants
- Opt. for the tomato based gravies and dishes instead of the cream based gravies.
Fast Food Joints
- While ordering a pav bhaji ask for toasted pav instead or the roasted butter pav
- Sandwiches are always a better option than the Vada pav.
Tips to Get Your Food Portions Under Control
Food does not have to control us; we need to learn to control it. The first step to obtaining this freedom is learning to control portions which will help in cutting back on calories and losing weight.
- While eating out, order for less number of portions than the number of people dining. You get to share the dish and tend to eat less.
- The bigger the plate, the more food you're likely to put on it. Instead of using huge dinner plates, mega soup or salad bowls, and enormous glasses, use smaller salad plates, shallow soup bowls, and shot glasses for your food needs.
- Shop wisely, look for healthy snacks. Prepare them in handy snacking sizes at home whenever possible.
- Eat high quality, low quantity.
- Shut the TV or computer - Watching TV or working on the computer while you're eating can lead to eating more food.