Dining-Out Secrets

Even when someone else is doing the cooking, you can stay in control.
Article By: Amanda Genge
Dining Out Strategiesseries cap

Eating every meal at home is one way to make sure you’re always in control of your food choices. But who lives that way? Most of us need to grab food on the go at some point, or are obliged to dine out frequently with work colleagues, or just like to enjoy a restaurant meal with friends or family. In your meeting this week, you discovered a range of ways to ace eating away from home. Here are some more helpful dining-out ideas, including ways to use Weight Watchers tools.

Arming yourself with your PointsPlus® budget is the first step to enjoying an on-Plan restaurant meal. Then, consider what you want to do before, during, and after the meal to help you stick to your goal.

Before you go out

  1. Explore the Eating Out section of our Spaces tool. You’ll find lots of helpful tips (like how to choose a restaurant you and your dining companions will like) and ideas for staying in control in the face of temptation.
  2. Look at an online menu, decide what to order and pre-track it ahead of time (you can even save your favorite restaurant meals to your Tracker).
  3. Do the math: Will you use any of your weekly PointsPlus Allowance for the meal, like for a special dessert?
  4. Rehearse your “lines” ahead of time. If you’re not used to asking for “a side salad instead of fries, please,” practice before you go so you’re comfortable making the request.

At the restaurant

  1. Use the Restaurants and Cheat Sheets (under Planning Tools) in the Weight Watchers Mobile app to help narrow down your choices if you’re still undecided.
  2. Ask questions! If you’re not sure how a dish is prepared based on the description, always ask your server for details. You don’t want to end up with a "pricy" surprise.
  3. Get creative with the menu. No need to order a full-size entrée: Try an appetizer or small plate, or see if you can get away with ordering from the kids’ menu.
  4. Want to satisfy your sweet tooth? Stick with something light like sorbet, or share a dessert with a friend (or just ask if you can steal one forkful before they dig in!).

After the meal

  1. Track it. If you pre-tracked, check your numbers and adjust where necessary. Even if you went over your planned allotment of PointsPlus values, you're better off recording what you ate. It keeps you mindful and close to the Plan.
  2. Look back at how the meal went. Were there any unexpected hurdles—that basket of cheese rolls, say, or your boss urging you to try her fried calamari? How did you handle them? If you're not happy with any of your choices, what could you do differently? A post-prandial post-mortem can help set you up for success next time.
  3. Make your next meal an on-Plan one. You've heard it before: When you slip, get right back on the path. In this case, if you've overdone it, a lower PointsPlus value meal that you measure and track carefully can help set you squarely back on solid ground. And if you haven't overdone it, you're reinforcing your good choices!

To help make these strategies and requests feel like second nature, you might want to do a dry run with a supportive friend or even someone from your weekly meeting. Practice using all these strategies and see how you do!

Share your secrets in the Comments, below — and read on for more ways to stay on track when you're dining out:

When Mexican is on the menu
When Mexican is on the menu
Hmm: how much that scoop of guac? How many chips can I eat for 4 PointsPlus® values? Is there a way to figure out what’s in that amazing mole sauce? See how our own Weight Watchers team members do it — and pick up a few tips for assessing your next meal at a Mexican restaurant (or any restaurant).
Special order
Special order
You have Valentine’s Day reservations at that cozy little restaurant in town—but you want to stick to your PointsPlus budget. Make your waiter your weight-loss ally! Here’s how you can discreetly ask for (and get) what you need at a restaurant, whether it’s dressing on the side, an entrée broiled instead of sautéed, or a takeout container.
Filet Mignon with Red Wine Sauce
A dinner to love
When romance is on the menu — or any time you fancy a French-restaurant-worthy classic — serve this elegant, but easy, Filet Mignon with Red Wine Sauce as your main course. Impressive, delicious, and totally sexy.



 

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