Going out and enjoying life is an important part of any health journey. But is it possible to make the most of a delicious restaurant meal while still making healthy eating choices? Thankfully, the answer is yes!
1 Go online
These days most restaurants post their menus online, which means you can plan your meal in advance. Take a look at the available options and choose the one that best fits your eating plan. The more prepared you are, the less likely that you’ll crack and order that large pizza with extra cheese…
Related: Can you really trick your brain into healthy eating?
2 Order like a pro
Most restaurants are open to small substitutions, which makes healthy eating that much easier. Swap chips for salad, choose grilled over fried, and always ask for your sauces and dressings on the side. Paying a few extra rands is far better than gaining a few extra kilos.
3 Watch your portions
Restaurant portions tend to be much bigger than home-cooked ones, so keep this in mind when you’re tempted to devour the whole plate. A good tip is to divide your meal in half before eating, and to ask your waiter to box it up as a takeaway. You won’t overeat, and you’ll have lunch ready for the next day. Score!
Related: 8 Reasons why you’re always hungry
4 Know the lingo
Menus will obviously try to make foods sound as mouthwatering as possible, but if you’re not careful, you could end up ordering hundreds of hidden kilojoules by mistake. Watch out for words like ‘au gratin’ (with cheese), ‘sautéed’ (fried in oil) and ‘crumbed’ (covered in breadcrumbs and fried) and always, always stay away from salads with ‘creamy’ dressings. The more you’re able to read between the lines, the healthier your meal will be.
While the price of being healthy might seem high, it’s possible to eat better, train better and live better without spending a fortune. Find out how, here s how!
