Eating Out...Say What???

The hubby says, “Let’s go out” and I swear my heart skips a beat. Really??? I don’t have to cook? In that moment I think that I love him more than chocolate!

Someone waiting on you, “treats” that you never get to have... love it when I don’t have to cook but I know if I do it too often, I could end up in a LOT of trouble. (But, dang! That fresh bread they like to serve you is SO tempting!) How do you enjoy a meal out…really enjoy it…and still stay at least somewhat on track? Know exactly what you are eating, of course!

Read the description. How is the food being prepared? Grilled is great. Even sautéed is good….but not if it is “sautéed in a garlic butter sauce.” The word “stuffed” in a description should probably send up a red flag. Obviously “fried” or “breaded” are things you want to avoid. Pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth. Treats are alright to have in moderation, but a treat every day will take you down the wrong road fast. Can you splurge here and there? Sure…and if you don’t, you will probably end up feeling deprived. You just have to know how to balance. Pair your meal with a fresh salad or order grilled veggies for your side. Life is ALL about balance.

The picture above is my meal from a recent trip to the Outback. What can I say? It was a steakhouse so I had to have steak! But I did pair it with steamed veggies and a side salad with vinegarette dressing…and I kept my bread consumption to one small piece. I got my splurge and still balanced it out.