This blog is mostly about cooking, but it's also a little bit about my weight loss journey. So if you're looking for a recipe, you'll have to wait until next week.......
I've been back in Alberta for nearly two weeks now, and while I've been able to enjoy many delicious home cooked meals I've also been going out for dinner rather often. I'm not complaining of course...I love it when other people cook for me. However, for a girl on a "diet" going out for dinner poses two unique challenges: first, you have no control over how much butter/oil there is in your food, and second, restaurants tend toward large portions.
Consider this for comparison.
I make a rather delicious penne alfredo. One serving is just under two cups of pasta and amounts to just over 500 calories (with 10g of fat). This is more than enough food for me...and even when I add salad, a slice of garlic toast, and a glass of wine (which I often do) I can keep the total calorie count between 800 and 900.
At a popular Italian food chain they make a similar dish (only they use a different kind of noodle). Their dinner portion of pasta alone contains 1220 calories (and 75g of fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!)....if you take into consideration the salad, the wine, and the basket of breadsticks it is easy to walk out of that restaurant having consumed over 1500 calories (more than 3/4 of your recommended daily allowance).
Also important: that's the entree alone. The 1500 calories just quoted does not take into consideration additional appetizers or dessert.
When going out for dinner it's important to eat smart. Now this doesn't mean ordering only salad or ignoring that basket of bread...I, for one, love the bread basket. Here's the best tip that I can offer: when your entree arrives, tell yourself immediately that you will be taking half of it home. This simple move cuts out 600 calories and brings the restaurant entree more in line with the one that you might cook at home (even though the fat content is still much higher...but that is something that you can't control). If it helps try thinking about it this way: not eating half your entree leaves room for dessert!
Finally: don't forget to enjoy yourself while you're on your "diet". It's okay to cheat once in awhile, as long as that "once in awhile" doesn't end up being every night. Food is supposed to be delicious, and it's supposed to be something that you enjoy. So order that appetizer and have the decadent entree.....just don't eat it all at once.
You'll thank me when you get to have delicious leftovers for lunch. Which is what I'm about to do......
I've been back in Alberta for nearly two weeks now, and while I've been able to enjoy many delicious home cooked meals I've also been going out for dinner rather often. I'm not complaining of course...I love it when other people cook for me. However, for a girl on a "diet" going out for dinner poses two unique challenges: first, you have no control over how much butter/oil there is in your food, and second, restaurants tend toward large portions.
Consider this for comparison.
I make a rather delicious penne alfredo. One serving is just under two cups of pasta and amounts to just over 500 calories (with 10g of fat). This is more than enough food for me...and even when I add salad, a slice of garlic toast, and a glass of wine (which I often do) I can keep the total calorie count between 800 and 900.
At a popular Italian food chain they make a similar dish (only they use a different kind of noodle). Their dinner portion of pasta alone contains 1220 calories (and 75g of fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!)....if you take into consideration the salad, the wine, and the basket of breadsticks it is easy to walk out of that restaurant having consumed over 1500 calories (more than 3/4 of your recommended daily allowance).
Also important: that's the entree alone. The 1500 calories just quoted does not take into consideration additional appetizers or dessert.
When going out for dinner it's important to eat smart. Now this doesn't mean ordering only salad or ignoring that basket of bread...I, for one, love the bread basket. Here's the best tip that I can offer: when your entree arrives, tell yourself immediately that you will be taking half of it home. This simple move cuts out 600 calories and brings the restaurant entree more in line with the one that you might cook at home (even though the fat content is still much higher...but that is something that you can't control). If it helps try thinking about it this way: not eating half your entree leaves room for dessert!
Finally: don't forget to enjoy yourself while you're on your "diet". It's okay to cheat once in awhile, as long as that "once in awhile" doesn't end up being every night. Food is supposed to be delicious, and it's supposed to be something that you enjoy. So order that appetizer and have the decadent entree.....just don't eat it all at once.
You'll thank me when you get to have delicious leftovers for lunch. Which is what I'm about to do......
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