Top 10 tips to eating healthy when eating out

Due to our fabulously busy and fast lives in the UAE (that often makes us extremely time poor), it is a well-recognised fact that most of us will eat out approximately three to six times a week, if not everyday. Is it the actual act of eating out that is making us put on weight or are we making wrong choices while dining at a restaurant? I reckon it is the latter!
If you absolutely have to eat out, let's work out some ground rules that will empower you to make the right choices whether you need to lose weight or just maintain a healthy lifestyle overall.
1) Ditch that buffet: "Yes, but it's good value for money." "Yes, but I had an Entertainer voucher, so had to have the buffet." Get rid of these excuses. A buffet will ALWAYS compel you to eat more. Stick to a la carte and that way you just won't overindulge.
2) Say NO to the bread basket: This is the most fattening thing you can eat prior to your meal. The overdose of carbs, not to mention the butter, can blow your calorie budget right out of the park. Instead, ask the waiters to bring in some crudités (vegetable sticks) with hummus or moutabel or some other healthy dip.
3) Don't drink your calories: You may think it is alright to replace sodas with fruit juices. However, if you were to find out the amount of sugar these drinks carry, you would be shocked. Opt for water instead - still or sparkling.
4) Love your salad and soup: As a starter, the best thing you could do is to opt for salad or soup that will fill you up partially! This means you will enjoy and savour your main course even more and not wolf it down. Avoid the creamy soups and the calorific dressings. Ask for lighter dressing or request for it to be brought on the side rather than poured all over the salad.
5) No swimming in sauces: The words 'creamy', 'thick' and 'gooey' imply highly calorific dishes. Why not go for the clean grilled, baked or barbecued option? That way you save yourself at least 200 calories per meal. If you can't find anything on the menu that looks healthy, ask around. Most restaurants will be fine to rustle up something for you.
6) Share your desserts: Everybody loves a dessert, but nobody needs one. It is something we condition our brains and bodies to crave for after a meal. Sadly, most people do quite well till they get to this stage. Try and order just one dessert and share it with as many people as you can.
If you follow any one of these steps and implement them without fail, you can hope to lose at least four kilograms per month. Once you see how well this goes, you will never go back to eating recklessly.
For further queries, you can email Ahlaam on hello@powwerlounge.com. Also, check out www.powwerjars.com
 
For further queries, you can email Ahlaam on hello@powwerlounge.com. Also, check out www.powwerjars.com

wknd@khaleejtimes.com