"Hey girls, let's go eat somewhere nice on the weekend!" I still remember the time when such statements made me more stressed than happy.
"Oh dear. Eat out. In a restaurant I do not even know. Whether they serve dishes that I tolerate well? How are the portion sizes there? Whether there will be vegan / vegetarian or even gluten-free options? How can I order my food to meet my needs? How can I discreetly comment on my special requests? "Etc.
The questions are familiar?
Whether you have an intolerance, eat XY diet or just want to give up certain foods, I would like to share with you my best tips for eating out and maybe there is one or the other for you?
Tip # 1: Check the website before
Yes, my graphics and webdesigner vein comes through again, but this tip is really worth gold.
We humans simply tend to think about the things we do not have the answers to. You want to know what you could eat?
Then visit the homepage of the restaurant. Search in advance your dishes together and think about what you might have to order at the waiter new / different.
Tip # 2: The sound makes the music
The waiter comes to the table and takes the orders. Then let the others order at the table. Most of the last in the round (you) is then given the least attention by the others.
If all are already on the ratchet so you can now undisturbed at the waiter place your order. (Everyone is still listening with dumbo ears on the first round)
Get the waiter to you by your side and ask him what he can offer you if you want to do without XY. Ask the waiter to become creative. This is not only fun for the waiter, I am also positively surprised every time which creative food I often get served!
Also, showing with gestures that one wants to have the dressing on the side (with swipe of the hands to the side), so that the waiter really memorizes your extra wish. So many times I've explicitly said that I do not want something, and yet it ended up on my plate. Clear gestures can really do wonders.
Tip # 3: You always have a choice!
Even though the lavish eating out may not fit perfectly into your plan, you always have the choice to make a healthier decision on your order. It does not require any of you that just because you go to a burger bar today, you also have to eat the XXL burger with extra fries.
Make it smart and just order the healthier alternative whenever you can.
There are french fries and potatoes, choose the potatoes.
There is burger or the burger plate, choose the burger plate (without the bread roll).
There are Mojitos, let them make you as Virgin (non-alcoholic) variant. Nobody will notice that at the table.
There are XXL salads, let them bring you with a separate dressing (so you can decide how much you want to eat).
Tip # 4: Do not go completely starved to eatTip # 4: Do not go completely starved to eat
You are not sure how powerful the food will be tonight or if you will find something suitable at all? Then I advise you: never go out of the house completely starved. With a little something in your stomach you can
A) make healthier decisions locally and
B) if there's really nothing suitable for the food, then in an emergency even a salad might be enough for you and it's everywhere!
Tip # 5: RelaxTip # 5: Relax
And last but not least my most important tip:
take it easy and relax!
Even if you hit the strings because it was just sooooo good, that's fine. From a burger you will not have to take 2 sizes of clothes right away! Just as you will not lose weight from a salad!
Enjoy the evening in the circle of your loved ones and see it as a kind of nice "challenge". Order all the things you might not cook at home and enjoy every bite. These are the moments in life that make life so worth living! The crazy ice then in Ibiza at the harbor, the great cocktails in this small Mexican bar, the pizza on the beach with the girls after the party .. These are moments that you would like to think back to.
The one who says NO too often, misses something.
Treat yourself to whatever is good for you on this day and the next day, new (healthier ^^) decisions are made.