How To Stick To Your Diet Away From Home

It’s one thing to stick with your diet regimen when you’re at
home, in control of the contents of your refrigerator and your
portion sizes. But what about going out to dinner with friends?
Worse, how do you stay on track when your dream vacation has you
seated by the dessert cart at every meal? Eating right when
you’re out of your comfort zone can actually be easier than when
you are at home, so long as you think smart and plan ahead.

Getting in shape can be an arduous journey, and you should allow
yourself to celebrate along the way! However, celebrating
doesn’t mean two helpings of dessert. Instead, focus on these
simple tips to help you enjoy your dinners out on the town
without compromising your weight loss goals.

Incorporate meals out like any others. Don’t skip meals
beforehand, setting yourself up to be starving, then overeat.
Plan, don’t be afraid to call ahead and find out what the
specials are going to be and figure out a couple of choices, so
that you don’t stress out when you arrive and order foods that
are not the best options for your diet.

If the restaurant or event is going to serve you buffet-style,
again, call ahead to plan. If that’s not an option, here are a
couple ideas. First, ask someone with whom you’re comfortable
sharing your dietary concerns to help you. Tell him or her what
foods you can eat (or what you cannot eat) and ask the person to
fill a plate for you. Or second, walk up to the buffet table(s)
beforehand with no plate. Just take a casual stroll around and
see which foods are being served. Then decide if you would like
to ask someone else to place your selections on a plate for you
or if you would prefer to get them yourself.

First of all, use manners and eat slowly. Not only will this
help with your digestion, it slows your eating down so that you
don’t “gulp” and be a chow-hound, eating everything in sight. If
out with others, remember you are also there for socializing, so
talk between bites. Set your eating utensils down while you
chew. Have a sip of water between bites. The goal is not to see
how fast can you wolf down the food while someone else is
talking.

Food has become our society’s way of bringing people together,
bonding friends, and building relationships. Unfortunately, for
those of us looking to cut back on what and how much we eat,
this can make previously enjoyable dinner dates to be dreaded
and avoided tasks.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Remember why you’ve been invited
out in the first place: to enjoy the company of others. You do
not need certain amounts of food or certain types of food to
accomplish this. Still go out, but help choose a place with
foods you can eat. For example, opt for a restaurant with salads
and low-fat menu choices instead of a place with all deep-fried
batter-dipped menu choices and heavy desserts. The worst thing
you can do for your self-confidence is to shut yourself off from
your circle of family and friends, or to stay shut in the house
all the time. After all, when you do meet your weight loss goal,
you still want friends around to enjoy it with!

If you’re nervous about your willpower, go through a couple of
trial runs with other friends who are watching what they eat. In
this case, peer pressure can be a positive thing, as you all
encourage one another to make healthy meal decisions. Avoid the
urge to compete with one another to see who can drink the most
water and eat only shredded lettuce leaves. Instead, choose an
old favorite and split it with a partner. This way, you won’t
feel deprived and your portion size will automatically be
limited. Not only will your waistlines be smaller, but so will
your bills!

Chances you, whatever restaurant you will be frequenting has
heard every request in the book–twice. If you’re concerned you
won’t be able to find something on the menu that meets your
needs, call ahead and explain what you’re looking for. Even if
it’s not on the menu, they may be able to whip something up
especially for you if you’ve called in advance. Phoning early
can also provide nutrition information for certain meals, if you
need this information. And be flexible and open to new ideas.
The cook may have his or her own special recipes and ideas.

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