Pre-Dinner Restaurant Temptations…You Decide

Let’s face it…Going out to dinner is fun.  No dishes, no cooking or preparation, people to wait on you!  Food is entertainment.  The problem is that when we go out to eat, we want it to be a special occasion.  We don’t want to spoil the fun by eating “healthy.”  Make a few small adjustments in your restaurant choices can make a big difference.  Something as simple as not putting sour cream on your baked potato or skipping that extra piece of bread.

With the food they serve before your dinner, it can turn into a meal itself.  Before you reach for the bread basket or bar treats, consider this:

French bread (4 slices):  384 calories, 4 grams of fat, 72 grams of carbs.
Garlic bread (4 slices):  545 calories, 21 grams of fat, 75 grams of carbs.
Butter (2 pats):  72 calories, 8 grams of fat, 0 carbs.
Olive oil (2 tablespoons):  240 calories, 27 grams of fat, 0 grams of carbs.

Snacking on bar treats to pass the time waiting for your table or guests simply packs on additional calories to your meal.

Peanuts (1/4 cup):  212 calories, 18 grams of fat, 7 grams of carbs.
Tortilla chips (1 cup):  130 calories, 7 grams of fat, 16 grams of carbs.
Pretzels (1 cup):  171 calories, 2 grams of fat, 36 grams of carbs.

Do the french fries or pasta sound good?  Check this out:

French fries (1 medium order):  450 calories, 22 grams of fat, 57 grams of carbs.
Pasta with meat sauce (1 cup):  301 calories, 10 grams of fat, 33 grams of carbs.

Be prepared and plan before you eat out…your waistline will thank you and so will the scale.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy