How To Choose The Healthiest Foods On The Menu
Let’s be honest, as much as we try our best to meal prep and home cook our meals throughout the week - it’s NOT always possible.
There will also be times when you’re out enjoying your weekend & find yourself wanting to grab a bite out with friends. Or... you know, you might be traveling abroad where there's very minimal choices, forcing you to get a liiiiiittle bit creative. And, sometimes, it's just not always as enjoyable as just getting a fresh, hot meal made to order just for you!
The good news?
It IS still possible to choose healthy options when eating out! You just have to be a bit more proactive at planning ahead, food combining and looking for the most nutritious options.
Here are a few of my fave tips when choosing what to eat at ANY restaurant:
1. THE ONE INGREDIENT RULE
Stick to as many one-ingredient foods as possible - like egg whites, mixed greens, shredded carrots, avocado, brown rice, etc. Any food that is literally comprised of the same ingredients as the food itself is free game. (PS... "hot dog" or "cake" is not an ingredient.) ⠀
2. GO RAW WHENEVER POSSIBLE
Choose raw, fresh foods over cooked, fried or barbecued foods. Many restaurants tend to load their foods with oils and sauces before (or after) they’re cooked - so in order to avoid that completely, choose to go raw whenever possible.
3. LOOK FOR LARGER VEGGIE SOURCES
Make sure your portion of veggies is larger than your starch, In the case of the photo above, I opted for a side salad instead of the typical home fries that are served with every breakfast dish and also substituted for egg whites only in my omelette. I also asked for one slice of toast on the side, instead of two.
4. EAT IN THIS ORDER
Eat your protein first, your veggies second and then cut the remaining foods on your plate in half. (Most restaurants tend to under-deliver on the protein and overdo it on the sides.) This will help to ensure you are filling up on all the good things first, and then only eating what you can of the more calorie-dense and less nutrient-dense foods.
5. SAUCE ON THE SIDE
When your dish comes with a specific sauce or dressing (especially salads or bowls!), try asking whether you can have the sauce put on the side, instead of mixed in with your meal. (Usually, you can!) This way, you have full control of how much sauce or dressing you eat with your meal.
Pro Tip: When I do this, I love to dip my forkfuls into the sauce container versus pouring a small amount over my meal. I find that I use a lot less dressing this way, and every bite still tastes delicious!
Do you swear by any of these (or other) rules when eating out? Let me know BELOW!
With love and wellness,
