Portion Control. Dining Out.

Let's get real here. For what we get charged at restaurants we should get those ginormous plates of food but should we be eating all of that in one sitting? The answer is, no. One of my all time favorite chef's and TV personalities is Giada De Laurentiis. When she eats out she asks them to take half of the meal and put it in to go containers before it ever even hits the table. It's a solid idea but most of us are not comfortable will asking for this service so instead you have to rely on your will power to know how much of what you're eating you can have in one sitting and to stick to your plan! Believe at first it may be difficult, especially when you're out celebrating and it's your favorite dish but after awhile you will begin to get full on the portions you allow yourself to have and you won't have to think about it anymore. Now everyone's diet is different (and I hate using that word) but portion control is crucial. Sure you can have some veggies and some hummus but if you eat a 1/2 cup of hummus every day when you really should have only had 1 tablespoon you're probably going to be disappointment come time for weigh in and measurements. Moderation is key. It's okay to "cheat" once in awhile too. Just remember the only person you're cheating is yourself. If you really have to have that piece of cheesecake after dinner, earn it! Go for a walk, do something active to earn it so you don't spend the next three days beating yourself up over it and wind up going on a guilty binge eating spree. (Which we've all done before. If we're being honest with ourselves.)

An easy quick way to portion control while dining out is divide the meal in half and save the other half for lunch the next day or do what I do and take it home and share it with a family member. My mom loves when I do this. :) The biggest portion on your plate should always being veggies, the green kind is the best! Primary vegetables such as spinach, brussels sprouts, kale, asparagus, string beans, carrots etc.


Dining out tips:
1. Divide your meal in half. (Mentally, have them do it or do it yourself!) Portion control 101
2. There should be more vegetables on your plate than anything else (just like our momma's told us growing up. We weren't actually supposed to stop eating them once we became adults!)
3. Stay away from words like- basted, smothered, fried, breaded, battered, loaded, stuffed, etc instead go for words like- roasted, baked, braised, broiled, poached, seared, grilled, or steamed
4. If you want to have an adult beverage (and your old enough) don't feel guilty about it just be smart about it! Click here, for tips on how to not hinder your progress and still enjoy that glass of wine at the end of the day!
5. Look up the menu online and decide on what you are getting before you go. This can take the stress out of the situation completely and you'll know exactly what you have to adjust for the day so you can enjoy your meal and the company you're with, as you should be doing.


I hope this makes dining out easier for all of you!