- How to Choose the Most Accurate Menu Out There?
“I am on the street 5 days a week, there is a program every night, how will I diet?” One of the many individuals who complained that “you” could be “you” and you wouldn’t be wrong. Because, a valuable part of social life began to form outside arrangements. Private parties and celebrations, lunch meetings, coffee chats, tea parties, breakfast invitations, open buffets for brunch have entered our lives too much. It is always easier to eat at home, because your menu, the ingredients you use and its dimensions are under your control. However, you may find it difficult to choose a meal at the restaurant. A rich variety of menus and delicious starters before the main course, olive oil and warm breads can completely disrupt the diet plan.
For many people who follow a diet program, eating at a restaurant is not even in the middle of the options, it turns out that there is no need! If you are one of those who stay away from restaurants while dieting, you can enjoy your meal with your friends at your favorite restaurant without disturbing 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 leaves the bread basket first on your table without asking, if you sit down very hungry, your hand will inevitably slip into the bread basket. Bread with various contents, grisini and tiny salty biscuits can be in the bread basket.
But in order to prevent excess calorie intake and not spoil your diet, the first step will be to skip the bread. You can tell your waiter to remove the bread basket or not to bring it at all, so that when the eye does not see it, the heart breaks and you get through the first stage without any calories. Of course, let’s not forget the olive oil that comes with the bread basket, although it is a useful oil, 1 gram contains 9 calories, try to use this right in your meal.
You examined the menu and it was time to order;
2. Choose healthy drinks
One of the biggest mistakes made during meals is when ordering drinks. Never underestimate liquid calories. Alcohol, juice, and sodas contain almost half the calories of the food you eat. For lunch, I suggest you drink “WATER” or mineral water. If you don’t want to drink plain water, you can add a lemon slice or add some fresh juice. If you are going to choose 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 can be wine instead of a high-alcohol beverage such as raki or vodka, 2 glasses for men and one for women, white or red, it does not matter.
3. Avoid snacks
Snacks are mostly fried foods. Fried calamari, cheese, fried potato patties or onion rings and base sauces sound good before the meal, but since the frying process is applied, they will cause you to double the calories. For a healthy meal at the restaurant, I suggest you focus on the main course. If you couldn’t say no to the starters, then you can create calorie stability by sharing the main dish with a friend
4. Choose a salad to fill you up
When taking orders, waiters ask if we want soup or salad beforehand. In this case, your choice is for salad. Soup is also a good option, but its ingredients are also quite valuable. In more than one restaurant, soups can be creamy and high in salt. Choosing a salad with light sauces before the main course (if there are no light sauce options, you can order your salad without dressing and add lemon, vinegar, pomegranate syrup and 1 teaspoon of oil yourself) will make you feel quite satiated due to its fibrous feature.
5. Choose vegetables as a side dish next to the main course
There is at least one side dish next to the main course and they are usually served with mash, fried-baked potatoes, rice. However, if you prefer sautéed vegetables or greens instead of these starchy options, you can probably create a more pleasant calorie right by having one or two forks of dessert after dinner.
6. You can take half of the meals to the house
This offer will be a very decent option, especially for those who live alone in the house. Restaurant meals are usually large in portions, so you can ask the waiter to bring half of the meal and pack the remaining half. If it is a situation that you are not used to, you may feel embarrassed at first, but then you will get used to it, and you will have done a useful job for both your stomach and your pocket.
7. Order meals containing lean protein
Detective meticulousness may be required when choosing the main course, because the sauces added to the meals can cause you to take in 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 most suitable options.
At the same time, proteins give a greater feeling of satiety. Definitely question the ingredients of the sauces.
8. Stay away from high-carb meals
A huge plate of pasta or a large sandwich combined with vegetables sounds healthy, but since it contains high carbohydrates, choosing it frequently may cause you to disrupt your diet. If you choose your sandwich with wholegrain, lettuce-vegetable content and without mayonnaise, you can get lower calories. When choosing pasta, pay attention to whole grain or wholemeal if possible, and tomato sauce on it. Avoid creamy pastas.
9. Look for healthy options on the menu
Today, many restaurants take care to prepare healthy and low-calorie menus. They even prepare delicious and healthy options for those who want to eat low-calorie, and specify their calorie content, so you are aware of what you are eating and you do not go out of your diet. Sometimes even the menu of the day may be suitable for you, try to make it a habit to ask about the options other than the menu.
10. Choose a healthy dessert
It is not a big deal to enjoy a low-calorie and healthy dessert once or twice a week while dieting. Your preferences; small portions of milk dessert, sorbet, frozen fruit yoghurt or cream-free fruit desserts can be.
