These are tips from Tosca Reno's Stripped book and I found them super helpful and I hope you will too.
1. Develop an "I don't have to eat it all!" Mindset. Make up your mind before you go out to eat that you don't have to get the most bang for your buck by cleaning your plate. Keep your goals in mind and remember how important portion control is.
2. Satisfy hunger only. Don't Gorge. Eat for the purpose of satisfying your hunger, but no more.
3. Start small and green. Start your meal with a salad, without dressing. Use a spritz of lemon or some balsamic vinegar.
4. Broth is best. When there is no salad option - have a broth based soup.
5. Hold the BREAD please! Remember that bread is not helping you achieve your 10 pound weight loss goal. You really don't need the bread, as yummy as it is!
6. Clean Cooking Techniques! Look for entree options featuring steamed or raw veggies and grilled, baked or roasted meats or fish. If they aren't listed, ask the server to prepare it that way. And don't always just trust the low fat or fat free symbols.
7. Portion Control. Have a good look at your plate when it arrives. Ask for a to-go carton and split your meal in half. Most restaurants give you WAY more than you would ever need to eat in one setting.
8. Fletcherize. This is the practice of chewing each mouthful of food a minimum of 25 times. It gives your body a chance to recognize that you're getting full.
9. Skip the booze. You want to avoid alcohol because sugar can completely derail your progress in the most powerful way. And it's way too easy to have more than one drink once you've started. Have a sparkling water with lemon or lime slices.
10. Stop before the end. Think of your plan and your goal to lose those last few pounds. If you can't resist having dessert, ask for a dish of fresh fruit and make that your treat!
Another problem with eating out is that a lot of times we won't eat much before because you are saving your calories for your meal at the restaurant. And then you might have a wait at the restaurant and by the time you sit down, order your food, and wait for it to come - you're starving and you can't control yourself and you overeat. Try eating something before you go out so that you don't have that chance to over eat.
Going out for dinner and drinks is a very popular way to socialize with your friends. But it can be the one thing that stops your progress and your ability to move forward. Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean that you have to be boring - you just have to find new and different ways to socialize. And getting your friends involved in those activities can be fun and can help them create healthy habits too! And it's so important to remember - that you can work out really hard all you want - but your abs are really made in the kitchen!!
