Are You Dreading Dining Out While on a Diet? Here’s What Makes It Easy

28 August 2024

Hello Ziddis! How many of you just slyly prefer hanging out at your own place instead of going for a dine-out? How many of you hover over the salad menu only to order pizza on public demand? How many of you decide to eat healthily and one dine-out spoils that goal for you? Yes, that is a lot of us. Not all of us have the superpower to say no to a dine-out or order healthy food in a restaurant when expected to “let loose”. So here are some easy hacks to make sure you have your dining-out boundaries in place to stay on track with your protein rich food items choices and how to have a stress-free dining-out experience.

Look Before You Go

Always try to be familiar with the place you are deciding to go to. Check out their menus and healthy food options. Make sure that they serve a meal that is good for your health goals.

Some things to keep in mind when researching:

Focus on protein rich food items to stick to your fitness goal, feel full and not have sugar cravings for a big bite of dessert later.
Look for lighter or fitter options like a low-calorie meal that can still satisfy your cravings.
Know the portion size before you order and if it feels too much ask if someone else on the table would like to split.

Choose Protein Rich Food Items

Protein items as mentioned above are great for cutting sugar cravings, keeping you full and stopping you from overeating. It will also help you stick to your muscle health goal. Here are some high-protein choices to consider:

Grilled Chicken
Fish
Plant based proteins like dals, chole, tofu, falafel, etc.
Paneer
Egg-Based Dishes

Add Some Fiber

If you are dining out make sure to check out their salad section which almost every restaurant has. Ordering a side of salad will help you stay full, improve your fibre intake and stop you from overeating.

Keep an Eye on Calories and Fats

It is understandable to feel like a buzzkill when caring about calories in a dine-out situation but know that building these boundaries makes you stronger not boring.

Ask for dressings and sauces on the side to ensure they don’t have too much fat or sugar
Avoid ketchup and mayo dips
Opt for steamed or grilled sides
Watch out for bread baskets and appetizers

Protein Powder to the Rescue

Having a small serving of protein powder shake before heading for a dine-out plan can help you curb your hunger and stop you from overeating at the restaurant. This is a good hack for someone who often says they aren’t hungry at a restaurant to avoid eating out but end up starving and wanting to order something for themselves.

Protein Bar in Your Pocket

If you feel everyone is only ordering unhealthy food, you can opt out of the ordering and take a bite of your protein bar to give you company during your hunger pangs. Keep a protein bar handy so that you have a solution for all the unplanned dine-outs.

Low Calorie

While we are on the fitness journey we worry about our calories so opting for low-calorie options is wise during a dine-out. Here are a few things you can do:

Avoid ordering a decadent dessert
Do not order sugary drinks
Limit alcohol consumption
Do not starve yourself

Low Cholesterol Meals

Sometimes your health conditions can force you into choosing a healthier way of living and a win is a win! Embracing a low cholesterol diet is not just essential for those who are advised to do so by their physician but also for those who believe in preemptive measures. Here are some things you can do to ensure you end up consuming what’s right for you.

Order salads without dressings
Have steamed food
Ask for the nutritional content from the server
Pick the olive oil option
Do not choose oily, cheesy or buttery dishes or have an add-on.
Ask the server what can they make considering your health situation.

Conclusion: A Little Prep Goes a Long Way

Dining out doesn’t have to feel like a daunting task when you’re on a diet. By doing some research ahead of time, focusing on protein rich meals, and keeping an eye on your overall calorie intake, you can enjoy eating out without derailing your progress. Remember, balance is key, and with a little preparation, you’ll find that eating out can still fit into your healthy lifestyle.