Dining out
Eating out often leads to consuming too many of kilojoules in a single sitting. By following a few simple rules you can enjoy a restaurant meal and maintain whilst still maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
5 Simple rules:
- Limit alcohol
Having a social drink is often associated with a nice night out. Try to limit yourself to 1-2 alcoholic drinks and stick to water for the rest of the meal. - Pass on the bread and butter
Sides and starters can encourage you to overeat and fill up on ‘empty calories’ before you main meal even arrived - Avoid anything fried, sautéed or cream based
Such options are often high in saturated fat - Include some vegetables, preferably steamed or stir-fried
Ensuring your meal includes some vegetables will help you reach your ‘5 a day’ target. - Stop when you’re full!
A large portion size often triggers over eating. Enjoy your meal slowly and pay attention to signs of that you’re full.
Plan Ahead
Although a restaurant meal will often have more kilojoules than a meal prepared at home that doesn’t mean that it needs to exceed your daily intake. Choosing to have a light lunch before an evening out and including some extra physical activity into your day can help to lessen the impact of a big meal. Similarly, if you’re planning on having a drink, try to avoid alcohol the days before and after a night out. If you’re choosing the restaurant look at their menu online to ensure that there are healthy options available.
But remember…
A healthy diet and lifestyle is about balance, enjoy yourself! You’re less likely to stick to a healthy eating plan if it comes at the expense of the things you enjoy, plan ahead and make considered choices.
