Sometimes when I go out to eat at restaurants, I am amazed at how much food people eat and how much food restaurants serve now. It’s extremely mind-boggling when you actually measure the servings, calories, and total fat for each meal. It’s so unhealthy that sometimes I don’t even want to imagine what it’s going to do to your digestive system and organs.
Just the other day I was at Applebee’s and saw someone order the appetizer sampler. This thing had cheese quesadillas with guacamole cheese sauce, chicken wings with ranch dressing, jalapeños, mozzarella sticks, and mini cheeseburgers. And this person ate it all like it was nothing. I mean, this dish had to have been 1,500 calories. That’s enough calories for most people in a single day and I don’t even want to go into how much fat and trans fat was in that plate of all fried food. This is what got me thinking when it came to writing this article about some helpful ways to try to eat healthy when you’re at a restaurant.
Tip 1: Avoid fried foods at all costs. The oil used in restaurants is not high-quality cooking oil. Actually delete that statement. All foods that are cooked in oil are not good for you, especially when they are reused over and over again. This makes it even worse. It’s all trans fat, plain and simple. Trans fats can cause cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. All the bad things that happen to you.
Tip 2: Avoid pasta and bread. I don’t know about you, but I love Italian food. I love it and would eat it every day if I could. The sad thing is that people eat this way every day and it’s no wonder why our obesity numbers are so high. A serving of pasta is 1 cup. This provides about 50 grams of carbs per serving and doesn’t come from high-quality carbs like oatmeal or yams. In restaurants, the average pasta serving size is 4 to 7 cups of pasta. That’s between 200 and 350 grams of carbohydrates in one serving. Unless you’re Michael Phelps, there’s no way it’s all going to burn down and be used for fuel. It will all be stored as body fat. Period.
Tip 3: Skip dessert. Dessert tastes wonderful, but you really don’t need it. Sometimes it can be as high in calories as the food itself because most desserts are loaded with sugar and fat to make them taste good. But this ensures your path to diabetes and a bigger waistline. Do yourself a favor, just skip dessert, or if you really have a sweet tooth after eating, ask if they can provide you with fresh fruit. At least it will be a healthier alternative.
By using these 3 tips, you can definitely ensure your success when it comes to eating out. Especially if you are on a diet and trying to lose weight. You usually know if it’s going to be bad for you, so use your best judgment and follow these 3 rules.
