Eating Out Advisor
Since many Americans eat out several times a week, it's important to be able to stick to the program in restaurants. The good news is that you can order a 21-Day Slimdown meal in virtually any restaurant once you know how. Eating out can be an art form, and once you're good at it, it ensures success for life!
- READ THE ENTIRE MENU CAREFULLY.
You'll probably see all the ingredients you need to create a 21-Day Slimdown meal. An Italian restaurant, for example, will likely have a variety of shrimp and fish. They may have spinach for Florentine or ravioli, and virtually all Italian restaurants have marinara sauce. Politely request broiled red snapper with steamed spinach and marinara. Voila! You have a healthy, low-fat meal.
- BE FRIENDLY.
Establish a rapport with your server. In the restaurant business, they want to please you and want you to return. They should have no problem catering to people on special diets (as long as you're polite).
- KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.
Plan your order before you place it.
- ORDER LAST.
Until you're a professional restaurant-goer, try to be the last person at the table to order. This way you won't hold up the rest of the table. When it's your turn, gesture the waiter to your side of the table so you don't have to shout.
- SAY IT AGAIN.
Have your server repeat what you've ordered back to you. This ensures they've taken your order correctly.
- BEWARE OF FREE FOOD.
Fried tortilla chips at a Mexican restaurant can have up to 1 gram of fat per chip. The bread served at Italian restaurants can have up to 800 calories per loaf.
- SEND IT BACK.
If you feel they've gotten your order wrong, don't hesitate to send it back until they get it right. You should never be intimidated into eating a fattening meal.
- REWARD THEM.
If the restaurant does a good job with your meal, tip them well. Try to keep mental notes of the restaurants that accommodate special orders.
