Some of you reading this report may eat out several times a week because of your work or lifestyle, and some of you may enjoy a great meal at restaurant only on certain occasions. If you rarely get a night out for eating at an amazing venue, then you should definitely consider somewhere like the Francisca Restaurant for your next meal out if you’re a fan of Latin American food.Either way, eating out can often be a trigger to eat poorly; however, this in this report I am going to share four of my best “Tips and Tricks“ that have helped me and my clients stay on track whenever eating away from home.
Tip 1: Choose a Healthy Restaurant & Be prepared.
If you’re going somewhere in your city, choose a restaurant that serves the food you know will help you be more successful. This means that most fast food chains are not an option. Instead, look for a restaurant that offers a salad bar or uses local, fresh ingredients. By using Google, you should be able to search for restaurants in your local area. This is how many people currently find places to dine. From a business perspective, restaurants should be trying to increase their ranking on Google to ensure that their restaurant is suggested when people search for this. To do this, restaurant owners could consider using an SEO agency like Victorious (find their website right here). This should help them to rank higher, ensuring that more customers visit the restaurant.
Jeanne’s Trick: If I am meeting friends at a new restaurant, I’ll check out the restaurant websites and preview the menus to decide on my best choices. This way I am relaxed while my pals are reviewing the menu. With a few choices figured out, I can decide what’s my best option with my waiter.
Tip 2: Look for lean protein and veggies. Ask questions!
Good example will always be a salad topped with a grilled chicken breast or shrimp of fresh crab. Ask for extra avocado and tomatoes. Instead of starch for an entrée, ask for an portion of steamed or cooked veggies or a side salad. Ask the server not to bring the bread. Look for “side orders” that may include veggies such as an artichoke, steamed spinach, coleslaw. Any way you can strategize around excess processed starchy carbs to get lean protein and veggies is good.
Jeanne’s Trick. I always ask for substitutions.For example, “Instead of the potato/rice/pasta/other starchy carb can I get extra vegetables instead? I’m willing to pay a little more if it’s required. Usually they won’t charge you but if they do…consider this your “flat stomach tax.”
Other questions to ask:
· If the veggies are cooked in butter, can I have them steamed instead?
· Could you please serve all the dressings/sauces/condiments on the side?
· Could you tell me if the chicken is breaded or grilled?
Tip 3: Break the “Menu Code”
· You can’t always believe what a menu says. It’s designed to catch your attention to order and eat.
Here are ways to interpret the “key words” to help you break the menu code.
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Words to Tantalize Your Taste Buds |
What They Actually Mean |
|
Creamy, rich |
Unless they state using “real butter or cream” chances are it is made with margarine or vegetable oils |
Breaded, lightly coated, crispy, “popcorn” |
A bread crumb or flour based batter and deep fried in oil |
Sweet and sour, honey glazed, caramelized, glazed |
All code words for lots of sugar, honey or high fructose corn syrup |
Layered, topped with, smothered |
Layers of fat or cheese added to improve “mouth feel” |
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· Here are some examples of “key words” seen on a menu. If you break the ” Menu Code” you probably would be better off skipping the appetizers or see if they have an interesting vegetable as a side dish..like a grilled or steamed artichoke serves with lemon juice and olive oil or melted “real butter.”
Tip 4: How to Do Salads
Salad is often a good bet. By definition, it has veggies, plus you can usually get some protein on top or on the side. But restaurants can often drown their salads in dressings which might contain good fats like olive oil But, too often cheaper dressings are used like ranch which most likely is made from questionable oils like soybean oil. Or they use sweet dressings like French, which most likely is a bottled dressing containing high fructose corn syrup and sugar in the sauce.
Jeanne’s trick: Ask for a bottle of Olive oil ,balsamic vinegar or fresh lemons and Dijon mustard. Mix these 3 ingredients together in a small bowl for a simple dressing that will add excellent flavor for a salad or chicken breast without any questionable ingredients. Simple and Fresh!