3 Tips to Dine Out and Still Reach Your Goals
We’ve all had that instance where we’re locked and loaded and ready to hit our goals. Then BOOM! The invites come flooding in for those good ‘ol communal meals.
The Collective is all too familiar with the “all is lost because I couldn’t log my restaurant meal” mentality. We’re never gonna ask anyone to isolate themselves and skip out on important events with loved ones, so we’ve put together some tips to help you enjoy yourself and stay the course!
Tip #1: Know before you go.
Make a valiant effort to check out the timeframe of the reservation, what the actual restaurant concept is (tapas, family style etc.) and which menu items are closest to your own plan.
At HLS we review menus with our clients ahead of time, but the following tips are imperative even with their options laid out prior.
Tip #2: Eat at your regular times.
Often times, people will forego their meals or carbs leading up to their reservations to feel less guilt about their indulgences.
This throws off our hunger cues and hormonal balance. If we don’t eat, we cannot regulate our blood sugar. And we tend to experience excessive hunger, headaches, and low energy. We get so over it that all will power goes out the window and everything is up for consumption. Not only is the will power shot, but we usually overeat due to eating too quickly to notice our satiety cues.
Tip #3: Build A Meal
Most restaurants offer plates that lack balance in macro profile because flavor always wins. Be prepared to order a side of lean protein and/or (ideally both) veggies. Having a balanced plate helps with our energy and digestion, allowing us to show up boosted for our workouts!
Bonus Tip: Use each instance you dine out as a learning experience. Perfection is never the goal, but if we learn from our experiences, we gain power over impulsive decision making.
Check out more tips in our free Restaurant Ordering Guide!
Happy Dining!
