Eating out is fun--and it should be! Whether it’s an anticipated date night, dinner with friends, checking out a local restaurant, or just a convenience on a busy evening. I think it’s important to be mindful that even with good intentions, there is a lot more variability in food served at restaurants than when you prepare it at home. You don’t know the exact ingredients, amounts or cooking methods and that’s part of the enjoyment (you don’t have to think about it!), but it can also be misleading if you never give it any thought. With that being said, I’m going to give you a few tips that I usually follow when eating out that may cross your mind next time you start perusing a menu (I’ll be in your head before you know it ;)
Jianna
I texted Drew earlier in the day and told him I was going to wear overalls to dinner---he said, "really going all out for this date night, huh?"
Don’t Set Yourself Up to “Fail”- It’s going to be a lousy evening if you go to KFC and try to make healthy choices. Choose a restaurant that has a wide variety of menu options so that people who want to indulge aren’t stuck with a salad bar, and those wanting to make healthier choices can. I would also recommend “budgeting” a few extra calories for the meal by eating slightly smaller meals leading up to your dinner. This could be as simple as skipping an afternoon snack or making a salad for lunch instead of a wrap or sandwich.
- Check the Menu- I think this is more and more popular with everything so accessible online, but most restaurants allow you to view the menu from their website. Check it out beforehand and have an idea of what you might order. This could help from being persuaded to order something you will regret later if you already have some kind of a plan.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Modifications- I can’t count the number of times Drew laughs at me for suckering a waiter into making a custom dish for me. I have no shame! In my opinion, if it’s going to cost me more than it would for me to make it at home, I’m going to enjoy it. This usually includes: dressing on the side, substituting sides for vegetables, asking for any additional marinades on the side, hold the cheese, etc. You can’t control how much of these things they include in your food if they are already there, but a simple swap can!
- Enjoy the Experience, Not Just the Food- Sometimes in transitioning to a healthier lifestyle, it can be easy to think you are being deprived or “missing out.” I would encourage you to think about how nice it is to not have to cook, enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant, dive into the conversation with the special people around your table and try not to envy their burger and fries too much! (there is definitely a time and place for those foods, but that’s not the point of this post).
Walking the Walk-- below is a sneak peak into a birthday date night at Jianna, a restaurant that just opened in downtown Greenville, SC. Drew and I tried to walk in the night we celebrated my birthday and quickly realized how unrealistic that was as they were completely booked until 10 pm. Drew had played a soccer game earlier and I had gone for a longer run, so that was out of the question. We made a reservation for a weeknight, went to get sushi instead and somehow I got two dinner dates out of one birthday ;)
Italian food isn’t really my favorite, but I had seen a few things about this restaurant and it is categorized as ‘Modern Italian’ and we wanted to check it out. It’s above lululemon so it’s at least enticing by location.
(Tip:1) I didn’t really anticipate the portions being too big, and honestly didn’t do anything at all differently eating during the day than I normally would except look forward to dinner a tad more.
(Tip 2:) I found the menu online and immediately my current obsession jumped off the page-- TUNA! Don’t like it canned, but seared is just amazing. Picking a meal that centers around protein instead of pasta is a great way to keep the carbs lower and allow room for sides or dessert if you want.
(Tip 3:) Didn’t know what “gremolata” was, but of course I just asked and was told it’s “a dressing or garnish made with chopped parsley, garlic, and grated lemon zest,” so I asked for that on the side (they forgot, but it was fine).
(Tip 4:) Enjoying a night out with Drew mid-week isn’t too hard to appreciate, but with our schedules being so busy recently, it was extra special. He has a way of making me want to spend every spare second with him again and again. Our table was on the balcony overlooking Falls Park and the weather was perfect1 We talked about Summer plans (I’m a teacher and literally counting the hours), upcoming weddings, and toyed around with the idea of looking for an investment house soon…..#realtorwifelife. All in all, it was delicious and completely enjoyed!
For those of you curious about tracking macros (I’ll do a post on this in the future), I would estimate them as follows:
Calories: 320 40P/18C/8F