Healthy Choices are Possible When Dining Out
Making healthy choices when going out to eat can be tough. Portion sizes, calories, carbs, fat, and salt are usually higher when dining out versus eating a home-cooked meal. But we get it – sometimes you just have to get out!
Here are some tips to help you make healthier choices. These are general suggestions, so remember to check your options and portions in your DayTwo app before ordering.
- Ask your server not to bring the bread or chips basket to your table.
- Consider soups like minestrone, hot and sour, wonton, or tortilla soup. These are typically lower in calories and carbohydrates.
- Ask your server to box up half of your dish (for leftovers) before bringing your meal to the table.
- Split your meal with a friend or loved one.
- Choose foods that have been grilled, baked, broiled, steamed, or roasted.
- If you want pasta, ask for it as a side dish and limit your portion to what the app recommends.
- If eating Italian, consider sauces like piccata, marsala, puttanesca, francese, or cacciatore. These may have higher scores in the app.
- If eating Mexican food, remember that beans, rice, chips, and tortillas will affect your blood sugar. Try to limit yourself to just one portion of one or two of these foods. Check your app to see what combinations work best.
- If eating Chinese food, order items with lots of vegetables and ask for a side of noodles or rice. Portion out what the app recommends for you.
- Try stir-fried vegetables, chicken, tofu, and/or fish with sauces on the side.