• TGIF But . . .

It's Friday night and your TOTALLY on board with this healthy lifestyle thing I've been preaching BUT you haven't got a clue as to where or what to eat when you dine out!? Don't feel bad, I too was stumped until I took the time to do a little, no A LOT of research on restaurant menu's. Heck I've even done research on gas station menu's LOL! I told you I put some serious time into this healthy lifestyle thing! Most of the menu's out there do NOT post calorie counts or other VITAL nutritional information. Don't expect much more from the employees of these places because they haven't got a clue as to what they are serving either. I've even gone so far as to call corporate offices and complain and voice my concern that no one had an answer. On a GOOD note there has been a recent surge in the past year or two with many restaurants stepping to the plate and posting their nutritional information, on the menu or online. It is not required by law and in my opinion it should be, just like when you go to the grocery you know EXACTLY what it is you are buying. Don't you think you deserve to know what exactly you are buying at a restaurant? A restaurant should be PROUD of their food and those are the restaurants I chose to dine out at. Those are the restaurants that will be listed on Big Girl Thin!

Don't laugh but this is how I trick the chef of the restaurant into preparing a healthy dish for me . . . in my head I think of myself as clinically obese with a serious heart condition. I told you not to laugh . . . that makes ordering a lot easier for me NOT for the server or chef! I order my food with NO salt, NO oil, No anything, as plain as possible. Everything is on the side. When the food arrives at the table I season it myself! Well what do I order you ask? Usually chicken or fish with a double order of STEAMED veggies NOT sauteed with heavy oil ewwwwww! Sometimes I opt for a soup NOT cream based. I'm not a big fan of salads, rabbits live on lettuce not me! If you are a salad fan order dressing on the side and use only one or two tablespoons worth. You are going to have to learn to use your "eye" as a measuring tool. I like oil and vinegar with a little fresh squeezed lemon as a dressing. Oh and never let them put bread or chips on the table that's just setting yourself up for failure. Remember I said never judge a box or can by its appearance well the same goes for food on a menu. Just because it "sounds" healthy does not mean it is. That bad boy salad could be packing a day or two worth of calories! Here's another way I "beat the system", if I am at a restaurant that does not have a chef or is unable to accommodate me I will visually cut may plate in HALF. Ever notice some of the skinny girls out there never seem to finish their entire plate, well they figured out the system and now you know their dirty little secret. When it comes to desert I say GO FOR IT! You're probably like what?! No way?! YES you can indulge a LITTLE. Order a table desert and split it with everyone. If it's just you and your man then have three bites and pass the rest on to him! Remember I keep my calories for the day under 1500 so you do the math when it comes to what and how much you can eat of something. I'm not that good at math so if I can do this in my head so can you! Last but not least, be prepared! Take the time to look the menu up online before you go out. This will make your restaurant experience much more enjoyable and your a** will thank you :)