Eating Out

In an effort to save my (slowly) shrinking waistline, I've been avoiding eating out, but today temptation won (again). After a nice breakfast of bacon and eggs, the hubby and I spent the early part of the day working on glazing our kitchen cabinets (which we'll finish tomorrow). However, once the clock hit 1 p.m. and we had to turn up the temperature to save electricity, we decided to run some errands and then head to the mall for R and R. So by 2 p.m. the family was heating up leftover Chicken Divan and discussing where to go. Unfortunately, our errands took longer than expected, so we didn't get to the mall until 4:30, and by 6:30 we were all hungry again. After surveying our choices, we settled on California Pizza Kitchen - not for its menu, but for its relative lack of noise. On the bright side, the choices were varied and I managed to find a salad that wasn't over my limit, though I couldn't resist the crusty Italian bread presented while waiting for our order or having a bite or two of Jade's lovely dessert - Butter Cake topped with Haagen Dazs (sigh).  Still, I left believing I made good choices without feeling deprived. 

Before - bright white

After - antique vanilla



Jeff's Choice - Caramelized Peach Salad (38 net carbs)

My Choice -  California Cobb Salad (7 net carbs)

 Eating out is always a dilemma at our house because none of us wants the same thing. This problem is compounded, though, when we consider dietary restrictions. Thinking about this a few days ago, I spent a little time online looking for restaurants that fit the bill. Most of the blog posts I read dealt with how to eat fast food (order the burger without the bun, skip the fries, etc.), but none had many recommendations on specific restaurants. At first this frustrated me greatly. Why couldn't someone just make a list of allowed eateries? The answer is because they're all allowed. Eating out is part of life along with not always having control over the venue. So, it is important to learn how to eat wherever you're sitting. (I realize this seems obvious, but it is something I have struggled with.) Needless to say, some restaurants (like Sizzler) are easier than others (like Rubio's). The trick (that I'm still working on learning) is approaching the meal with moderation. It is not necessary to order dessert; an appetizer isn't required; vegetables are easily substituted for onion rings, and breaded is not the only way to eat chicken and fish. Breaking these long-time habits can be difficult, so I try to focus on the 13+ pounds I've lost and remember that I am allowed to eat whatever I choose. By telling myself yes, it becomes easier to say no. (I'm sure there is some psychological term for this.) Today, I happened to wear a favorite pair of denim shorts which I had outgrown but now fit again, so when the waiter asked about dessert, the no came a little easier. Ultimately, the goal is being in control of food rather than letting it be in control of me. With my love of food, I guess I'll always be working on it.