Work parties, birthdays, meeting up with friends: eating out is a way to gather, celebrate, and enjoy life! So you shouldn’t have to cut it out in order to eat healthy. With a little help and planning, you can definitely keep your healthy eating progress on track when going out to eat!
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15 Brilliant Ways To Eat Healthy When Eating Out
Read the menu ahead of time
Find out where you’re going ahead of time and look up the menu. This will help you make an informed (and wise) decision on what you should order!
Decide on what to get before you get there
This may be the single most important tip for eating healthy when eating out. Decide what you will order before you even get to the restaurant and stick to it!
Make sure the meal includes a large portion of fruit or vegetables
When you order, make sure that the meal includes lots of fruit and/or vegetables! A good trick is to make sure that half of your plate is filled with fruit/vegetables. This is a great idea to add to every meal!
Split the meal in half and take home leftovers
Restaurants tend to have pretty large portions for meals. Ask for a half portion or have half of the meal placed in a to go container. You may be surprised that you’re actually full much earlier in the meal and not having the temptation to keep eating in front of you is essential!
Eat a snack before you go
It’s all about knowing yourself! Will you be tempted to order something unhealthy because of how hungry you are? Try eating a healthy snack before heading out in order to make mindful decisions!
Find the most nutritious thing on the menu
Not sure what to order? Take a look at the menu beforehand and try to pick out the most nutritious items. What will nourish your body the most? Which option has the most vegetables and healthy fats? Identifying this can help you stick to the healthiest option.
Stick to water
Sugary drinks are one of the unhealthiest temptations when eating out. Choose to stick with water, and make sure to drink a lot of it before the meal arrives!
Make healthy substitutions
Feel free to ask for substitutions that make your meal healthier and more nutritious. You can also build your own meal!
Soups and salads
Feeling overwhelmed? Soups and salads are always a great option for eating out. Simple as that!
Sauces and dressings on the side
If ordering a salad or menu item that comes with a sauce, be sure to order the sauce or dressing on the side. This way you can decide how much is the right amount!
Comfort food can be healthy
Not feeling like eating healthy? We ALL have those days. No worries: comfort food can be healthy, too! Order less cheese on your pizza, sub veggies or sweet potato fries for french fries with your hamburger, split a salad and a “splurge” item with a friend. There’s always a middle ground!
Eat your meal slowly
Have you ever been SUPER hungry and eaten your entire meal only to realize you ate way too much? It can take up to 20 minutes for our bodies to tell our brains that we’re full. Eat your meal slowly to ensure that you stop when you’re actually full!
Plan for dessert at home
Skip dessert while eating out and save the treat for when you get home! A few pieces of chocolate or a chocolate chip cookie at home can be heavenly.
Stick to your workout plan
No matter what you eat, make sure that you stick to your workout plan to keep burning sufficient calories and building muscle! Sometimes just knowing that you still need to workout that evening (or knowing how hard you worked to burn those calories that morning) are enough to help you make healthy decisions throughout your day.
Continue to eat healthy throughout the week
Splurged while eating out? Pick up where you left off! Continue to eat healthy throughout your week and focus on nourishing your body the best you can. No pressure, no stress. Food is meant to be enjoyed!
Divya says:
Nice article. It will help me next time I go out for restaurant food. Thanks.
Natalie says:
These are really good tips. I always struggle when we are dinning out. Soups and salads are my number one choice. And I always use just olive oil and vinegar. No restaurant mixed dressing. That saves me a lot of unnecessary calories.
Amy Gorin says:
I always scope out the menu before going…maybe it’s the foodie in me, but I always want to make sure I have options! And also like the excitement and anticipation!
Amanda says:
I love these tips! Fitness and nutrition is a huge part of my life. I love seeing other people talk about being healthy!
Deborah Brooks says:
Eating out is always challenging! I like to take a look at the menu beforehand if I am going somewhere new. Thanks for the tips!
Angela says:
These are all great tips! I always like to look at the menu ahead of time so I can plan.
Stephanie McKercher says:
So many great tips here! I’m going to keep all of this in mind for my next trip. Eating out is fun but I still want to feel energized and at my best.
May says:
Thanks for this thoughtful list. It’s always frustrating to me that main meals in restaurants often include very few vegetables. They are merely a garnish here and there, to throw in a bit of color. So then I have to order a separate salad or veggie dish to get more balance, which ups the meal cost. The way around it is to share one main and one veggie dish, but then you have to find someone who likes what you like 🙂