TGIF!
It's the weekend! Maybe you're planning to kick back, relax and watch the NCAA Finals or perhaps you have plans to spend time with family and friends. As I look at my weekend ahead, I realize by Sunday I will have eaten out at least one meal, 5 straight days in a row! Great for the social calendar, but not necessarily great for the waistline. Now I know I am not alone, we've all been there. By the end of the weekend, you may feel that all your hard work has gone down the tubes. It's great if you can eat a home cooked meal every night, but not everyone has the opportunity to do so. We live in an age where food is our common denominator for getting together, whether it's a business meeting, a birthday celebration, a date or you're just too tired to cook after a long work week. Don't despair. Here are a few tips that will help you navigate through those weeks when you just can't say no to another invitation.
- Plan ahead! Most restaurants post their menus online. Check it out before you go, this way you can focus on the people your dining with instead of the menu. I like menupages.com. They not only list menus for New York City restaurants, but also San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington DC. This really helps if you travel for business or even you are on vacation.
- Talk to a friend beforehand and make a plan to share a dish. Frankly, I've never been one to only eat half of my meal. If it's in front of me...I'll eat it! Whether it's an appetizer or entree, you're guaranteed portion control.
- Don't go hungry! Eat sensibly throughout the day so you won't overindulge. My mother used to tell me that my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Truth is, I was starving because I would save my "calories" for that one meal, and as a result by the end of the night I felt pretty ill because I just ate too much.
- Here's a common one - Skip the breadbasket. Why?...most of the time you eat it because it's there. If you really must have the bread, I recommend taking one slice and asking the waiter to remove the basket entirely. Why waste your calories on bread, save room for your meal.
- Don't be afraid to request something grilled, steamed or on the side. Most restaurants will accommodate your dietary needs. All you have to do is ask.
- Share dessert. There is no reason why you can't have dessert, 1/4 of a slice is better than 1/4 of the whole pie. Or eat like the French do and why not enjoy your salad after your entree? You might not even have room for dessert.
- Drink lots of water...need I say more?
- Make sure you get your exercise in for the day. This is by no means an excuse or reason to overeat! In fact, you'll probably end up eating less and make healthier choices. Why ruin all that good work you did in the gym?
- Finally, don't beat yourself up if you do indulge more than you wanted. I'm not perfect 100% of the time, no one is! Just remember to get right back on a healthy eating routine the very next day. It's okay to splurge every once in a while. Isn't that what life is all about?
Have a great weekend, Enjoy!
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