HEALTHY EATING OUT OPTIONS

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Yes, we all know it's cheaper and healthier to eat in, at home. But the reality is that we still like to eat out ... and we still plan to eat out. So ... if you have suggestions about where to go and what to order (and what NEVER to order) ... this is the thread for that!

Where to eat out and stay (reasonably) on a healthy eating plan?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

The mixed veggies, mushroom chicken and broccoli beef are probably the healthiest options at PANDA EXPRESS.

The grilled chicken, corn cobbette, and green beans are probably the healthiest options at KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN.

The turkey, oven-roasted red potatoes, and green beans are probably the best option at BOSTON MARKET. (Note:don't eat the cornbread!)

The Fresco Menu (crunchy tacos) are probably one of the better options at TACO BELL.

The Under 500-calorie menu at APPLEBEE'S has a number of nice options. I like the tilapia and the steak, personally.

The grilled salmon may be one of the better options at MACARONI GRILL.


At CHEVY'S, I get the steak fajitas. Instead of rice + beans, I ask for mixed veggies, and they're always very obliging. I don't eat the sour cream or the tortillas (flour), but I do enjoy some chips and salsa.

As a general rule, when I'm dieting and eating out, I avoid breads, sauces, anything fried, anything with cheese, and high fat/high calorie salad dressings. Grilled fish, veggies, and 8 ounces of potato ~ probably my first choice, where possible.

[thyme4change]

On vacation we went to a bunch of kid friendly touristy places (like Disneyland) and ate crappy food for several days. One night we went to an Italian restaurant and I walked in and said "I need vegetables." The waiter took care of us, and for our appetizers, we had a giant plate of lightly steamed asparagus, with a couple shavings of Parmesan, and another large plate of steamed broccoli with lemon juice squeezed on top.

Often times if you just ask, they can do all sorts of things for you. The better the restaurant the more likely they will work with you.

[Cookies Galore]

When we get Indian we always eat the vegetarian dishes. There are plenty of dishes made from chick peas, lentils, okra, eggplant, spinach, etc., that aren't loaded with cream and oils. I also get my food on the hot side so I eat slower. Indian food is so good that I shovel it into my mouth, but if it has a bite then I eat much slower.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...SUBWAY; eat fresh...
...and just about everywhere has salads now... SONIC has a decent Southwestern grilled chicken one... :-]

[dividend]

I eat out infrequently enough that worrying about it being healthy is not a concern of mine. For example, for breakfast 6/7 days I eat stuff like yogurt with fruit, homemade smoothies, bagels with peanut butter, oatmeal, etc. So when we got out to breakfast every couple of weeks, I don't want to waste money on something I could eat a higher quality version of at home for cheaper. I want biscuits and gravy, or eggs benedict, or lots of bacon and fried potatoes. Same thing with lunch or dinner. I can eat delicious healthy food at home. If I'm at my favorite gourmet dive bar, I'm eating a plate a chili cheese fries or a tempura fried hamburger smothered in wasabi coleslaw. Because that happens maybe once a week. And, let's face it, most "healthy" oriented food at a restaurant where that's not the focus is lousy. And why would I eat something that isn't delicious? Life's too short. Everything in moderation - including moderation.

* I can see worrying about it if you're travelling for business or otherwise stuck eating out for most of your meals. But otherwise, why not just eat something you enjoy when you go out?

[The J]

Jan 5, 2011 9:12:28 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

When we get Indian we always eat the vegetarian dishes. There are plenty of dishes made from chick peas, lentils, okra, eggplant, spinach, etc., that aren't loaded with cream and oils. I also get my food on the hot side so I eat slower. Indian food is so good that I shovel it into my mouth, but if it has a bite then I eat much slower.

I don't limit myself to the vegetarian dishes when I have Indian -- more often than not I get chicken or lamb. I do, however, get it spicy for the same reason -- if it's spicy, I eat slow enough to get 2 meals out of it.

[thyme4change]

I have noticed that even in "nice" restarants, chefs really lack imagination when it comes to vegetables. We went to steak house and spent a couple hundred bucks for the two of us, and the only vegetable available was very thick, stalky, tough, steamed asparagus. To make it special, they would throw hollandaise on it. I know it is a steak house, but really, they couldn't think of any other way to make a vegetable. And they couldn't get a supplier that would give them better quality asparagus? I went to a seafood joint - you would think they would have enough people that might want a real vegetable - same deal. 3 slices of pepper and a lousy piece of zucchini, steamed and unceremoniously dumped on the side of my plate.

I've had the same problem with numerous other places - even places that have a vegetarian option. It is mostly just cheese. Most places just offer a side of vegetable medley.

I will say that most places will always give you something - I just see quite a lack of imagination. I would like to see a challenge by the Michelle Obama to come out with the greatest vegetable side-dish recipes.

[thyme4change]

I don't want a salad. I'm the only person on the planet that can't eat salad 7 days a week.

I want professional chefs to put some creativity into vegetable side dishes.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

My pet peeve: restaurant side dishes that consist of .... yellow squash. Yep. All by itself. Unseasoned. Unremarkable. Uninspiring.

[thyme4change]

Exactly!