Our friend James misses the pandemic lockdown.
“That’s when I lost so much weight and got super-lean,” he says wistfully. “It’s too hard to eat right when I can go to restaurants and have huge servings. Too much temptation!”
Forced eating at home might’ve made it easier for James, 60, to restrict his calories. Restaurants can be danger zones when you’re trying to eat healthy.
Keep your guard up and remember these simple tips.
- No bread or chips before the meal.
- Order chicken and fish that’s baked or broiled, not fried. And no breading.
- Skip anything that’s “all you can eat.”
- Share entrees or ask the waiter to box up half before he brings it to your table.
- Get salads without meat, cheese and croutons; ask for dressing on the side.
- Limit liquids to water, tea and coffee. Evensmoothies can be jacked up with sugar. Cocktails and wine? Empty calories, and hard to stop after one.
- Avoid fried appetizers or anything breaded, wrapped in cheese, or dripping in sauce.
- Enjoy vegetables. Ask them to be steamed without added salt. Ask your waiter to sub them for starchy rice or baked potato.
- Don’t be afraid to ask. Your waiter should know enough about the food to offer healthy substitutes. At fast-casual restaurants, ask for half the normal servings of high-calorie components, like rice.
- We all love French fries and ice cream. Try to do without. If you can’t, share an order just occasionally.
