- How to Choose the Right Menu Outside?
“I am on the street 5 days a week, there is a program every night, how will I go on a diet?” “You” may be one of the many individuals who complain, and you are not wrong. Because organizations held outside have begun to form an important part of social life. Private parties and celebrations, lunch meetings, coffee conversations, tea parties, breakfast invitations, and open buffets for brunch have entered our lives too much to ignore. Eating at home is always easier because you have control over your menu and the ingredients and quantities you use. However, you may have difficulty choosing food at the restaurant. Richly diverse menus and delicious starters, olive oil and warm breads served before the main course can cause the diet plan to be completely disrupted.
For many people following a diet program, eating at a restaurant is not even an option. However, there is no need for this! If you are one of those who stay away from restaurants while dieting, you can have your meal with peace of mind at your favorite restaurant with your friends without disrupting your diet program with the tips I will give you.
1. Ask for the bread to be removed from the table
In many restaurants, your waiter will first leave the bread basket on your table without you asking. If you sit at the table very hungry, your hand will inevitably slide into the bread basket. The bread basket may contain various types of bread, grissini and tiny salted biscuits.
However, in order to prevent excess calorie intake and not disrupt your diet, the first step is to skip the bread. You can ask your waiter to remove the bread basket or not to bring it at all. This way, when the eyes don't see it, the heart will bear it and you will get through the first stage without burning calories. Of course, let's not forget the olive oil that comes with the bread basket. Although it is a beneficial oil, 1 gram contains 9 calories, try to use this right in your meal.
Once you have examined the menu and it is time to order;
2. Choose healthy drinks
One of the biggest mistakes made during meals is appears when ordering drinks. Never ignore liquid calories. Alcohol, fruit juice and fizzy drinks contain almost half as many calories as the food you eat. For lunch, I recommend you drink “SU” or mineral water. If you do not want to drink plain water, you can add a lemon slice or some fresh fruit juice. If you are going to make a choice other than water and mineral water, I recommend you to choose diet drinks. If there is a celebration or a special meal that you need to accompany at dinner, then your preference may be wine instead of a high alcoholic beverage such as raki or vodka. 2 glasses for men and one glass for women may be preferred, it does not matter white or red.
3. Stay away from snacks
Snacks usually consist of fried foods. Fried calamari, cheese, fried potato patties or onion rings and dip sauces sound good before a meal, but since the frying process is applied, they will cause you to consume double the calories. For a healthy meal at the restaurant, I recommend focusing on the main course. If you can't say no to the starters, then you can create a calorie balance by sharing the main course with a friend
4. Choose a salad to fill up
When taking orders, the waiters first ask us if we want soup or salad. In this case, choose salad. Soup is also a good option, but its ingredients are also very important. In most restaurants, soups can be creamy and high in salt. Choosing a salad with light sauces before the main meal (if there are no light sauce options, you can request your salad without sauce and add lemon, vinegar, pomegranate syrup and 1 teaspoon of oil) will make you feel very full due to its fibrous properties.
5. Choose vegetables as a side dish to accompany the main course
There is at least one side dish with the main course and they are usually served with mash, fried-baked potatoes and rice. However, if you want sautéed vegetables or greens instead of these starchy options, you can create a more enjoyable calorie allowance for yourself by having a fork or two of dessert after the meal.
6. You can take half of the meals home
This suggestion is especially important for those who are alone at home. It will be a very good option for those living alone. Restaurant meals generally have large portions, in which case you can ask the waiter to bring half of the meal and pack the remaining half. If it is something you are not used to, you may feel embarrassed at first, but then you will get used to it and you will have done something beneficial for both your stomach and your pocket.
7. Order meals containing lean protein
Detective care may be required when choosing a main course, because sauces added to meals may cause you to consume more calories than you think. You can ask your waiter for help for this. For lean protein; Grilled fish and grilled chicken breast are the best options.
At the same time, proteins give you a feeling of fullness. Be sure to question the ingredients of the sauces.
8. Stay away from high-carb meals
A huge plate of pasta or a big sandwich combined with vegetables sounds healthy, but eating it frequently may cause you to break your diet because it contains high carbohydrates. If you choose your sandwich with whole wheat, lettuce-vegetable content and without mayonnaise, you can get lower calories. When choosing pasta, if possible, make sure it is whole grain or whole wheat and has tomato sauce on it. Stay away from creamy pasta.
9. Look for healthy options on the menu
Nowadays, many restaurants take care to prepare menus with healthy and low-calorie options. They even prepare delicious and healthy options for those who want to eat low-calorie and also indicate their calorie content, so you are aware of what you eat and do not go beyond your diet. Sometimes even the menu of the day may be suitable for you. Try to make it a habit to ask for options other than the menu.
10. Choose a healthy dessert
While you are on a diet, there is no harm in enjoying a low-calorie and healthy dessert once or twice a week. Your preferences; It can be small portions of milk dessert, sorbet, frozen fruit yoghurt or fruit desserts without cream.
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