Dining in restaurants

[SUN123]

Curious if there any restaurant preferences when eating out, especially chains restaurants.

I took daughter and friend to her choice - Chili's. I got fajita platter with chicken breast and shrimp. I decided to venture into carbs (since Im 4 weeks into Phase 1) and pulled out a flour tortilla not knowing if it was okay. Anyway I broke off a quarter, put some shrimp onions etc and realized it wasnt worth the carb. Very strange from someone who loves flour tortilla (or so I thought). Weird. Its as if a carb has to earn its worthiness for consumption.

Im rambling - anyway, souper salad was always my 'diet restaurant' because there are a lot of healthy options but I was big on the fruit bar (watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe). Im looking for what works for folks when dining out - whether it be restaurant or type of ethnic food. I keep thinking a place that serves safe fish would be nice. A place with SB on the menu better.

[SUN123]

Well SUN, I recently ate at a Chili's recently - got there fajita platter of shrimp and chicken with onions and peppers.

I asked about it yesterday though on the SBDBB and due to lack of response, I suspect your out of luck dining out. Then again, I can be impatient brat so I'll let you know if I get a reply.

[luv2bike]

LOL Sorry, Sun! I just don't dine out much so I didn't respond to this thread. I think Applebees might have some SB friendly stuff. I think they have WW stuff there, but I can't remember. Some places have done away with their low carb menus or so I read somewhere. Not that SB is a low carb plan. I just say that because if it's low carb then it's most likely without sugar or flour in the sauces or stuff.

Just a word about the fruit bar choices you mention, watermelon is very high on the glycemic index chart and so wouldn't be a good choice, but the cantaloupe and strawberries would be very good for phase two.

South Beach has a small companion book that is a dining out guide and tells you what to order at different restaurants. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159...lance&n=283155 I don't have it myself. I can't afford to eat out very often anyway.

[Mindy moves on!]

You can dine most anywhere if you order smart. Substitute potatoes or rice for an extra portion of veggies and sorry but it's best to skip the bread because it's not going to be SB diet friendly bread -- which would require it to be whole grain, whole wheat with no high fructose corn syrup in it.

I go to italian restaurants and order mussels marinara (mussels steamed in marinara sauce) and get a big salad with it.

You can go to sushi bars (if you like sushi) and get a sushi roll made with brown rice and get edamame as an appetizer (steamed soy beans and really yummy)

Get a fajita salad next time you go mexican. That way you are not ordering tortillas to tempt you or to waste them.

Skip the butter at the table too.

A lot of times I like to order an appetizer that has no starch involved and a big salad. Done! And I'm happy!

Good luck exploring your food choices!!:speechless:

[mln2603]

My favorite to get when we go out is Grilled Chicken Salad minus the French Fries.... Does anyone know what i'm talking about or is this a Pittsburgh thing????

[momma23]

French Fries on salad???? Donno bout that one.

Sun- I've learned to eat out fairly successfully. I check out the salad selection where ever I go....most places have some nice salads. At Chilis I get the carribean something salad with grilled chicken instead of crispy and ranch dressing. Everything else is pretty much on track except the bacon isn't turkey bacon. Oh well, call it a splurge.

Applebees has some good options on their salads and their Weight watchers menu. We are getting a new Applebees soon....do you know where I'm talking about? Its near the OTHER Walmart.

In the fast food world, I like wendys taco supreme salad and one of the ones at McDonalds. With little kids its hard to avoid the fast food world all the time.

Dickeys BBQ I have found to be good for a treat. You can get chicken or turkey or you can ask them to cut the brisket on the leanest part. They are usually willing to do that. They have a low carb sauce available and you can get pinto beans or blackeyed peas or cucumber salad or fruit salad. Its not perfect but it could be a lot worse. Moderation is the key.

My best advice is to not eat out too often. I went from eating out about 5 nights a week to maybe once a week now.

Oh, my favorite salad bar is at a place called Ritzys. Its over by grapevine mills mall next door to chick fil a. Its awesome. You pick what you want in it and they toss it up in a big bowl with your dressing of choice. Its the best. I think it costs about 7.99 or something.

Fajitas are always a good choice...just without the tortillas. You could take your own wheat tortillas to the restraunt if you really need one.

Hope this helps some....let me know if I can help more.

Carolyn

[luv2bike]

Thanks everyone for your contribution to this thread. :joy:

[mln2603]

Your Welcome Luv!

I think the french fry thing is definintely a Pittsburgh thing... Pittsburgh puts french fries on everything!! But... don't try it... it's addicting...