Learn how to eat healthy even on the go by finding menu items that comply with your weight loss program in East Brunswick.
For many people, eating out is an excuse to indulge in burgers, French fries and deep fried anything. For this very reason many people hesitate to even enter a restaurant while following their medical weight loss program in East Brunswick.
It is unrealistic to believe that you will never have to eat out again during your medical weight loss program. Holidays, special occasions, birthdays and plain old hectic days are still going to come up during the course of your weight loss program, and at some point the other members of your family are going to want to find something to eat. Those moments when you cross the threshold into a restaurant and are confronted with a menu are huge ones. Will you stick to your weight loss program, or give in and “cheat” just for the night?
Knowing what to look for on the menu can help you stay on track with your weight loss plans even on the go. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your night out:
- Don’t just go for a salad. Believe it or not salads can sometimes pack more calories and trans fats than other entrees. If you are in the mood for a salad then ask for the toppings to be removed. Once croutons, cheese, creamy dressings and bacon bits are on the salad the health benefits are long gone.
- Avoid fried foods. Menus are known for disguising cooking methods with the use of specialty culinary terms. Batter dipped, breaded, broasted, crispy and pan fried are all fried. Steer clear of all of these terms.
- Avoid the cheesy and creamy. Entrees that are doused in cream sauces and cheese are losing much of their health benefits thanks to the toppings. Terms like au gratin, cream sauce, cheese sauce, buttered, sautéed, smothered and basted usually indicate the use of dairy or animal fat in the cooking process.
- Look for healthy cooking methods. Almost every restaurant will sell some sort of lean meat cooked healthily; you may just need to ask for the toppings to be eliminated from the disk. Look for items that are baked, broiled, grilled, poached, roasted or steamed. Items that are cooked “in their own juice” are going to be especially healthy as they will have little to no added oils or fats.
Do you know of any restaurants in or around East Brunswick with plenty of healthy dining options to choose from? Share your thoughts and experiences in a comment below.
