It is an understatement when they say dieting is easy. Especially when you are out eating with your friends or family, the level of self-control that needs to be achieved then is probably the hardest thing to do on this planet.
Of course, you would love to try what the others are ordering, because hey, they do smell delicious! But oh no, you are just stuck with your salad and water. And no matter how hard you are trying, you cannot resist the temptation of reaching out and giving those dishes a try.
What if we tell you that you can eat whatever you want without having to ingest many carbs at all? We have here a few tips for you that will help you with your carb intake when eating out at restaurants. So, give it a read and then go out and have a nice low-carb dinner!
Plan it out
Before heading out for the night, do yourself a favour by planning. Think of which restaurant you will be going to and take a look at their menus from before-hand. Today’s modern dining experience, thanks to technology, is a lot updated. You will easily find the menu of the chosen restaurant online. There are many keto-friendly restaurants that offer low-carb dishes.
Take a look and decide which dish (most likely to be delicious yet sugar-free) that you would like to eat. Also, once you are aware of the ingredients of the meal, while ordering, you can ask the waiter for some careful customisation for it to be according to your low-carb preferences.
Say no to starch
While ordering, make sure you avoid starchy food, such as bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice. This means you should avoid noodle markets.
Therefore, while ordering, make sure you mention it to your waiter. Most restaurants will be willing to substitute the starchy element on your plate with extra veggies or will be ready to get rid of them altogether. If however, you still end up getting some on your plate, leave it be. But if you think you might be too tempted to try it, ask the waiter to replace it immediately.
Healthy fat is good fat
Restaurant meals usually have low fat, which might leave you feeling unsatisfied. Thus, the need for intake of carbs becomes more intense for you. But, there is a solution to this. It is simple, really; add fat.
Unlike popular belief, a little healthy fat is right for your body. While ordering, ask for extra butter melted over your meat or veggies. You can also go for vinegar and olive oil dressing for salads. Be liberal with the olive oil. Lastly, go for heavy cream while ordering tea or coffee.
Be wise with the drinks
If you are wondering which drinks are the best for your low-carb regime, the answer is simple. Go for either coffee, tea, sparkling water or just water.
However, if you have alcohol on your mind, then you can opt for dry wine, champagne, or light beer. Mocktails, cocktails, shakes and other beverages might be very tempting, but it is better to avoid them.
Avoid desserts
Desserts may be the cherry on top of the cake, but it also is a massive source of carb. And honestly, if you have managed so far, it will be a waste to give in to your temptation now. If you are not hungry, just avoid the dessert altogether.
However, if you still are, settle yourself with a warm cup of tea or coffee. Even better if you decide on a herbal tea of decaf. However, if hunger still prevails, ask for berries with a dollop of heavy cream or a plate of cheese.
