Any tips for eating out at restaurants?

[asmara]

Was wondering whether anyone could give any tips when eating out (should the need be) at restaurants?

For example, say you have to go for out for dinner/lunch to a chinese/japanese/korean/italian/french etc etc restaurant - what have/could you order -

Would love to get tips/guidance from all who have been out and about already. (ie what is most Cohen's friendly for each of the

I have a tip for Chinese restaurants:

I just had a family dinner at a chinese restaurant last night and brought my scales along with me. I had steamed crab (which was fantastic!!) and the vegetables were stir-fried with garlic.
I requested that NO MSG is added as am "allergic" and less salt and they did it! Also, I poured hot chinese tea in a bowl and dipped the vegetables in the tea to remove the oil before eating - still was good!

Love to hear from you!

[Ronky]

Good idea re. veges and chinese tea.

I went to italian the other night and had veal and a small salad. I asked them for no sauce and they were fine with it eventually. I also went to Greek for a work lunch and there was nothing on the menu. I called them the day before and explained the situation and they sorted it out for me by grilling some fish and serving it with a salad. Calling before hand was great as I didnt have to explain in front of my clients. the resaurant just did it.

Im off to Korean BBQ this week which is perfect as you cook your own food. You know exactly what is going in your mouth.

I am not going anywhere near a french restaurant for the remainder of my cohens life and probably not after that either. Im not that good with rich creamy food so I normally stay clear of here.

Good luck.

[Cheral]

I ate out quite a lot whilst on the programme. Made sure I went to restaurants where I could get Cohen type foods, and stuck to squid salads, (no dressing, I did have a small bottle of spray balsamic in my bag if needed) fish and salad, crayfish when it was a special occasion, I was pretty good at eyeballing quantities, so ate what I was allowed to have and then left the rest.
Asian food is more difficult and except for a trip to China shortly into my programme, I steering away from it. Same goes for Italian and french. Choose your restaurant and you should have no problems.

I drank Diet Coke, in a wine glass with ice, or iced water with a slice of lemon.

I never found a night out stalled my weight loss.

[louise41]

I have to dine out regularly due to my job. I just try to choose plain grilled meats and veges or salads. Most restaurants will oblige. I often feel a bit like Meg ryan out of harry met sally with all my special requests. I find if I say Im on a diet the staff are usually very helpful. I often have to ask specific questions about what types of veges etc, but I have continued to lose weight through out the program. Sometimes I lose more weight when Im away from home than when at home. Just finished room service and and even managed to get them to send up an orange with it.

Good luck with the dining out, I think the trick is to immediately screen out all the unsuitable choices and not to be tempted to indulge "just this once"

[Annabelle Joy]

I took my food with me if I wasn't sure I could get Cohen food. I just told the wait staff that I wasn't eating, and ate my food out of a bag on my lap. I used my 'chicken nuggets' recipe here: http://newyouforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4829. If I was going to a restaurant that served steak or chicken I phoned ahead and asked them to weigh my protein and salad to my specifications, and to give me an apple for dessert. I did ask each time what salad vegetables and fruit they had in the kitchen, and worked with what they had. Good restaurants are usually happy to help. In restaurants that won't have Cohen food, absolutely no one notices if you don't eat, or eat off your lap, including, as I have found, the people sitting next to or opposite you.

AJ

[sundaymorningstaple]

Like AJ, I always took my own food to restaurants. I explained that I was on a special diet controlled by my doctor for health reasons (All true) and if they could not accommodate my request I would take our whole dinner party to another venue that would be more accommodating. Generally, a loss of business does wonder for a change of attitude. Worked for me. Also helps if you friends/colleagues know what you are on about. Otherwise, while we continue to lose weight the other function of the plan fails to materialize jeopardizing the end result if we don't manage to reprogramme our HGH in the process.

[Shanara]

*bump*

others have been there before you!