ace’s Guide to Eating Out

With lockdown coming to an end and restaurants beginning to open some of you might be panicking about how you can stick to aceTRANSFORM or any other programme you might be on.

Here are ace’s tips on how to eat out:

1. Plan ahead – Find out where you’re going to eat, and search the menu online, this way you can see what is on offer when you’re not really hungry, and you won’t need to even look at the menu at the restaurant to get tempted by something less on plan.
2. Say no to the bread basket. Having a few pieces of bread and butter will just add a silly amount of unnecessary calories to your meal. If others on the table want the bread, then stay strong and think about your delicious meal you have ordered.
3. Order a salad for starters – this will fill you up a little without any added calories. Watch out for creamy salad dressings though and ask for your dressing on the side or ask the waiter/waitress for some olive oil and balsamic vinegar and dress the salad yourself.
4. What is best to order? – we would recommend going for grilled meat, fish, salads with a protein source e.g., steak salad, chicken salad, smoked salmon salad. Stay away from anything that is described as sautéed, creamy, cheesy, pan fried, breaded or crisp, these will be laden with hidden fats.
5. Step away from the chips – chips are a total no-no when watching your waistline unless they have been baked in a light and small amount of oil. Instead go for sweet potato mash, root vegetable mash, jacket sweet potato. The sweet potato is lower in calories, carbohydrates and higher in fibre than the potato, so a good option for a side dish!
6. Load up on veggies – as always your vegetables should take up the majority of your plate. Again look out for fried vegetables and instead go for raw or steamed versions.
7. Don’t be shy – restaurant staff are totally used to customers asking for dishes to be made slightly differently. Either call ahead and see if the chef is happy to make some small changes or ask the waiter when you’re there, 9 times out of 10 they’re more than happy to help!
8. Skip the sugary cocktails – see our blog on what alcoholic drinks to have when out socialising
9. Skip dessert – you’re better off going home and having a square of 70% dark chocolate then a chocolate fondant!

We hope we have helped you to enjoy eating out even if you are on a diet. For more health and nutritional tips check out our website https://ace-lifestyle.com. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with us via info@ace-lifestyle.com