| For some people that is their excuse for not eating | | | | while dieting either. Dieting and losing weight doesn't |
| healthy and losing those extra pounds they have | | | | have to be a gloomy and horrible time of your life. |
| packed on. Do you think that eating healthy means | | | | Instead of sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself |
| you have to spend all day Sunday in your kitchen | | | | and thinking about everything you shouldn't eat, go |
| prepping fresh vegetables and putting them in single | | | | out to a restaurant with family or friends, make |
| serve baggies so you have food to eat the rest of | | | | healthy choices, and really enjoy yourself and your |
| the week? | | | | food. |
| While I agree you could easily spend half a day in the | | | | The best strategy is to know what you are going to |
| kitchen cutting up fresh vegetables for the entire | | | | have before you go to the restaurant. Then you will |
| week if you wanted to, there are other options that | | | | be less tempted to order something you shouldn't or |
| aren't such a drain on your time. | | | | to be overwhelmed by the menu choices. If the |
| First of all, while fresh fruits and vegetables are great | | | | restaurant has their menu online, look it up and pick |
| foods to have handy while dieting, the salad bar at | | | | out your food beforehand. If it's not possible, keep |
| your local grocery store has them already cut up for | | | | your choices simple, avoiding most sauces and extras |
| you which will save you time. Even if your grocery | | | | because those are typically loaded with calories. |
| store doesn't have a salad bar, they usually have | | | | You are probably aware that the serving sizes in |
| precut fresh vegetables in their produce section or | | | | most restaurants are huge. Either ask for a doggie |
| deli that will save you time. My favorite ready to go | | | | bag right when you order and put half your food in |
| fresh vegetable are those already peeled baby | | | | that doggie bag or split a meal with someone else. I |
| carrots in one pound bags. | | | | do this when I'm going to go out and have |
| Second of all, there are lots of fresh fruits that don't | | | | something I'm been craving but isn't that great for |
| need any more prep than a good washing. Apples are | | | | my diet. |
| a perfect example. They are easy to transport and | | | | Most of the time I order seafood or a lean steak; |
| are delicious. | | | | skip the bread; have a sweet potato (without the |
| I also don't think it takes any longer to cook a | | | | marshmallows and brown sugar) on the side or |
| healthy meal than it does to cook an unhealthy one. | | | | vegetables on the side; drink water or a diet soft |
| It only takes a few minutes to broil or grill a piece of | | | | drink; and then split a dessert with everyone at the |
| fish. Fish is nature's fast food. While the fish is grilling, | | | | table so that I can have a couple of bites of |
| reach into the freezer for some frozen vegetables to | | | | something sweet. |
| steam and you have a very healthy meal in minutes. | | | | Having healthy snacks while dieting doesn't have to |
| There are also healthy frozen meals available in the | | | | be time-consuming either. You can buy nuts, those |
| freezer section of your store. | | | | precut vegetables mentioned earlier, snack size |
| You can also order healthy take out food that is diet | | | | servings of fresh cheese, and individual serving size |
| friendly in the same amount of time you can order a | | | | cups of yogurt. It also only takes a few minutes to |
| pizza with the works. Order some Chinese but skip | | | | take a box of healthy cereal and put it in plastic bags |
| the calorie laden General Tso's chicken and fried rice. | | | | for munching on when you have a craving for |
| Instead choose something much healthier and lower | | | | something crunchy. |
| calorie like beef with broccoli, shrimp with garlic sauce, | | | | If you want to eat healthier and lose weight you can |
| or teriyaki chicken. | | | | do it even if you don't have a lot of time to cook or |
| Going to a restaurant doesn't have to be forbidden | | | | prep food. |