Say Goodbye to the Pounds

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Some of you mom’s will be taken out tomorrow (or later) for a nice Mother’s Day meal.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

It really is so easy to choose healthy meals when eating out. Granted, some restaurants do not have healthy eating options, but so many do. And, now many even offer their nutritional info online and/or on the menu.

I like to know where we’re going ahead of time, so I can look up the menu online and plan what I’m going to eat. I can check out the nutritional information, figure out my points, and make a choice, or at least get an idea, of what I will eat before I get to the restaurant.

The best choice is to stay away from anything creamy or fried. You can have a baked potato, but hold the sour cream and butter, choose broccoli or pico de gallo. The best choices are grilled, steamed vegetables or a salad.

Do not be afraid to ask the waiter to prepare the foods how you like. Hold the sauce. Can I switch the mashed potatoes for rice or extra vegetables? If it doesn’t come back how you asked, do not be afraid to tell them and ask that it be returned and fixed the way you asked. You are just another customer to them. As long as you tip, they could care less. Besides, if you don’t take care of you, then you are just hurting yourself in this journey.

Another choice is to order from the Kids Menu. Some restaurants will let you do this, while others won’t. Just ask.

Watch out for salads. Stay away from the croutons, cheese and bacon bits. Ask for light dressing on the side. One trick I learned is Dip and Stab. Dip your fork into the dressing and stab the salad. You get flavor in every bite, without using all of the dressing.

What else can you do? You can ask the waiter/waitress to bring you a container with your food. Divide half your food and take some home before you even get started. I admit, I have a problem with this. Sometimes I just eat the whole damned thing. BBQ joints are my weakness. But, then I account for it, and that is my treat for the week.

I’m going to list some of the chain restaurants, give you the link to their menus, and suggest some healthy choices.

Again, I can’t reiterate enough to look at the menu beforehand, and know what you’re going to get before you get there.

APPLEBEE’S

Applebee’s has their menu online. They have a Weight Watcher’s menu available, and they include the nutritional information on their menus at the restaurant. All of the food is very good. I’ve felt full and satisfied and not deprived at all when the husband orders his ribs.

I’ve tried their Tortilla Chicken Melt, Onion Soup Au Gratin, Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake, Cajun Lime Tilapia, and have never been disappointed. I love ordering from this menu! I usually treat myself with one of their huge fancy drinks.

CHEESECAKE FACTORY

I went there when I was closer to my goal of 150. And, I tried to go as healthy as possible. They don’t have a lot of healthy choices. But, I absolutely had to have the cheesecake. This restaurant serves large quantities of food. Hubby and sons ordered unhealthy foods, and we were all waddling out the store when we finished. They don’t have their nutritional info online. Definitely make sure you ask for a container along with your order. Divide everything in half before you even get started.

FRIDAY’S

It’s not hard to find something healthy here. You may have to ask to switch the mashed potatoes with some rice. They have a Southwestern Mahi, which is grilled fish, served with rice and vegetables. They also have a grilled salmon with rice and vegetables. No nutritional info on their online menu.

OUTBACK

Outback has a great menu if you check their Gluten Free menu. Stay away from the Blooming Onion (the whole thing has 2310 calories!)! My husband always orders that, and I nibble. I take a small amount, then go to the bathroom. By the time I return, he and my two sons have finished it. They do not offer nutritional information online. I doubt they do at the restaurant either. However, New York has the requirement that they are supposed to. Not sure when that starts, but I’ll be we’ll all be surprised when we find out.

RED LOBSTER

I love love love Red Lobster! I have to avoid the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, or limit myself to one (which is damned near impossible!). But, if you check their Lighthouse Menu, you can find so many things to satisfy yourself. I love their Lobster Chops (don’t see it on the menu anymore DARN), but they still have lobster, crab legs, shrimp. Get steamed vegetables or a salad, and a baked potato, and you’re good to go!

This is just short list of a few of the restaurants I’ve gone to. And, sometimes even I can’t help myself. I get something “naughty.” I try to only eat half and take half home. After doing this healthy lifestyle thing for a while, you get better at it. And, sometimes you just have to say fluck it. Again, just account for it, and let that be your treat for the week if you do.

Again, very important! Try to find out where you’re going ahead of time, and check out the menu. It’s better to be prepared and know what you’re going to order.

Another tip. Order first! This way your order is already in when everyone else orders their food. You won’t be sitting there thinking, “Oh that sounds good, oh yeah that sounds better,” and change your mind.

There are many sites online that give you nutritional info when the websites don’t. Check out Dottie’s Weight Loss Zone, Calorie King, and/or Spark People. I check with all of them. Sometimes the nutritional information is the same, sometimes its different. But, it always gives me an idea.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:
HOW DO YOU HANDLE EATING OUT?

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