Dieting and eating out can go hand in hand

May 15, 2009 20:21 GMT  ·  By
Eating out doesn’t necessarily mean binging on calories if we know which are the traps to avoid
   Eating out doesn’t necessarily mean binging on calories if we know which are the traps to avoid

Most slimmers must know by now that sticking to a diet and eating out are two things that automatically rule each other out most of the time. Still, that is not to say that they can’t coexist with a little self-control and some willpower, and as long as we know which are the traps ahead of us and how to avoid them. Erin from FBG, with experience in the restaurant industry and on dieting in general, knows just where to look to spot and avoid these traps without adding a single inch to our waistline.

Eating out is dangerous in terms of calories because we often realize just how much we’re ordering, and on account of the fact that there is the temptation to ask for the most delicious sounding items on the menu. Understandably, because of this, having dinner out becomes an unattainable dream when we’re dieting, Erin says, but we can still work our way around it to fully enjoy a meal out every once in a while. According to FBG, the first thing we should keep an eye out for is bread, the all-powerful diet killer and waistline enemy.

Since bread is usually the first one to reach the table, we might be easily tempted to nibble continuously until the rest of the meal arrives. However, we can avoid this calorie-laden almost involuntary snack by simply asking the waiter to bring the bread at the same time with the other food or, even more convenient, by making a deal with our dinner date to have just one piece of bread per person. This way, we’ll get to enjoy it without overdoing it and then feeling guilty about it.

Should we be famished, the temptation to overeat once the meal arrives is huge, Erin further explains. This is why we should order a small salad or a light soup beforehand (as long as we make sure the soup is not creme) to “tame” our tummy, while making sure we leave room for the main course as well. We should be cautious about dressing and side dishes, since piling our plate full of everything will most certainly mean we’ll also be eating it, and we’ll be sorry the day after. The idea to eating out is to enjoy a nice meal without going overboard, so this is why we must order something that we want while also exercising moderation.

Moderation is also key when it comes to desert. As a rule, desert is designed to be a treat, which means we don’t have to order it each time we go out. Substituting fruits for ice cream or for a calorie-laden cake would be a wonderful idea of keeping the calorie count in check, and our diet failure-proof. However, in order to fully enjoy our meal, we can’t be spending the time counting calories and amounts, or thinking of ways to make up for the “binge” the following days, Erin points out – by all means, we should indulge our cravings but only as long as we know when to stop.