The Rule of 3 Or Sometimes 4

Hi friends!  Blogging later than usual over here, we had some family things going on that I needed to be present for, and now I have an hour before little man wakes up so let’s do this!  

Inevitably, at some point during a nutrition counseling package, eating out will come up.  I teach my clients (find out how to work with me here) how to eat out without destroying their progress and without losing their minds restricting themselves.  Today, I’m going to teach you!

The Rule of 3, or Sometimes 4

There are three, or sometimes, four, places to splurge when you eat out.  

• appetizer
• drink
• dessert
• and sometimes it’s the meal

So, let’s say you go to a Mexican Food restaurant…

• Appetizer – hello chip bowl, FACE DIVE amiright?
• Drink – #margaritas for life 
• Dessert – fried ice cream or if you are a flan person like Mr. Hungry then that
• meal – a plethora of tortilla-wrapped cheesy options to chose from here.  

So what do you do?  How do you turn that shitshow into something manageable you will enjoy?  First, realize that you can’t have it all.  Well, you can, just not all at once.  I’ve always LOVED this post from back in the day by Kath. It sheds light on the whole idea of eating out, especially during the holidays.  

So, go to the list above and pick ONE PLACE to indulge.  Yep, I said, just one.  If you only eat out once every six months, ignore my advice.  However, most of us eat out frequently for lunch and dinners, there is always a special occasion just around the corner, always something to celebrate, you’ll have another chance.  So, pick only one.  You can choose a different one another time.  

I pick the margarita, hands down almost every time except when I was pregnant (then I didn’t waste calories on virgin margaritas, those are lame, I need tequila, k thanks).  Even if I get a skinny version, there is still a boatload of carbs and extra calories in the marg.  So what does that mean for my meal when I go out? 

It means I’m mindful of the chip bowl, I have just a couple, but instead of diving in immediately, I wait for my meal and order that marg.  Sometimes, if it’s just us, Mr. Hungry and I refuse chips, temptation removed.  For my meal, I order fajitas and eat them straight off the skillet.  I don’t wrap them in any more tortillas, or eat a side dish of beans and rice. I’m getting plenty of carbs in my drink.  We skip the dessert and head home after a delicious meal.

But, what if your favorite Mexican restaurant has the best damn enchiladas you’ve ever tasted???  Great, get those and skip the chips, drink, and dessert.  That’s why I say, and sometimes, it’s the meal you may want to splurge the most on. 

Appetizer Modification

 

If you do not choose the appetizer to drown yourself in carbs, then you can still get one but pick a protein and produce based option.  

Examples:

• hummus and veggies
• spinach or other dips with veggies
• starter salad (I know boring but good)
• wings 
• stuffed mushrooms
• jalapeno poppers
• deviled eggs 
• skewers (chicken, tofu, shrimp, etc.)
• shrimp cocktail 

What Counts As A Drink?

Anything with alcohol, sugar, or both counts as a drink.  So, sodas count, sweetened teas count, fancy coffees, and skinny versions of cocktails count.  Diet sodas (although I don’t recommend them), water, and unsweetened teas DO NOT COUNT.

When To Break The Rules

On your birthday.  

It is my professional opinion that your birthday should be one epic cheat day if you want it to be.  Eat and drink whatever you want, whenever you want.  You survived, hopefully, thrived, another year.  Reward yourself!

Then don’t break them again, unless maybe your traveling, which I have another post coming soon on!  Stay tuned on that.  

In the meantime, you may also be interested in these hot topics: 

• Are bananas bad for you?
• Are cheat meals good for weight loss?
• Should you be taking collagen?
• Is Fasting Bad For You?
• Why 1200 Is Not The Right Number <— one of my most popular posts
• What Is The Best Weight Loss Program < —- read this before going on another diet!
• 10 Tips to Quit Late Night Snacking
• How to Detox the Right Way
• How to Handle Fluctuating Energy Levels

Question of the day: What is your favorite splurge when you eat out?  How do you balancing healthy eating with indulging when eating out?

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