Try these tricks to keep feeling good—even after a restaurant meal
- Ordering a sandwich? Skip the mayo. Opt for mustard instead.
- Switch up your sides. Swap out the fries and choose coleslaw or a side salad instead.
- Drink the beverage of champions. Yep, that would be water. Lemon optional.
- Banish the breadbasket. Or if carbs are calling your name, ask for French bread or whole-wheat rolls. (Pass on the butter, please).
- Save some for later. Get a to-go container with your meal and before you dig in, pack half away for tomorrow’s lunch.
- Act like a kid. Order the child’s size when it’s allowed.
- Avoid buffets. With all-you-can-eat specials, you get what you pay for — the post-pig-out, feel-bad blahs.
- Ordering Italian? Try pasta dishes with a tomato base. They’ll leave you feeling lighter than heavy sauces like Alfredo, Béarnaise, or Mornay.
- Go easy on the alcohol. Swap sugary drink mixes for reduced-calorie versions, add a spritz of soda water to wine, choose light beer. Or better yet drink water.
- Ordering pizza? Pile on the veggies but just say no to extra meat and cheese.
- When meat’s a must. If you’re eating steak, choose filet, flank, or London broil (they’re the lightest cuts). Trim off the fat and skip the sauces and gravy.
