Eating out always seems to be something that people concerned about when they are trying to clean up their diets. I have clients who will text me asking what they should order from one restaurant or another, all of the time. I thought I would share some of my favorite cleaning eating/paleo options that may help you when you are eating out!
Local Utah Options:
- Carrabbas: Order the Sicilian Chicken Soup with no noodles. I get the bowl so it fills me up!
- Cafe Rio/Bajios/Costa Vida: Order a salad w/no tortilla, rice, or beans. Get the meat, lettuce, as much pico as you want, guacamole, and if you MUST have the dressing get it on the side, and only dip your fork. The dressing has a TON of fat and calories in it.
- In-N-Out: Skip the bun by asking for it “protein style”, and ask for Double meat mustard fried, no cheese, grilled onions, chopped chilies, extra tomatoes, and hold the spread.
- Jimmy Johns: order the “unwhich” It’s a sandwich in a lettuce wrap, without the bun. No cheese, and all the veggies and meats you want! Go for mustard and guacamole instead of mayo/dressing.
- Which-which: Order your sandwich the same way you would at Jimmy Johns.
- PF Changs: Order Buddha’s Feast, steamed. Sub chicken for the tofu. Get the lettuce wraps as your entree.
- Chipotle: Order the salad or burrito bowl with no rice or beans. Choose the meat and grilled vegetables instead. Skip the cheese, go for lots of salsa & some guacamole. (Although, they put a TON on there, so you may want to tell them to go light.)
- Chick-fil-a: Get the grilled chicken nuggets. They are an awesome protein source that is quick!
- Pizza Factory: Squash noodles with marinara and grilled chicken. This dish is AMAZING. The salad bar is a great option if you can manage to load up on the veggies, and avoid the pre-made salads and dressings.
- Cubby’s: Order the salads with no cheese, dressing on the side. Be sure to just dip your fork if you are needing the dressing.
- Blue Lemon: (My favorite place ever) The mint mango chicken salad, raspberry chicken salad (no cheese), oriental salad (with no wontons) all with the dressings on the side. Get the sun dried artichoke chicken with the seasonal veggies subbed out for the fingerling potatoes. The sweet potato fries here are bakes, so they are a thumbs up!
- Olive Garden: Venetian Apricot Chicken or Grilled Chicken Spiedini (sub out the potatoes for another serving of veggies.)
Other general options:
- Thai: Order curry with vegetables and protein, no rice.
- Steakhouse: Order grilled chicken or beef with steamed veggies or a sweet potato. Ask to have all vegetables cooked with no butter.
- Mediterranean: Order protein kabobs with vegetables.
- Breakfast joints: Eggs, omelets, bacon, no cheese. Go for the fruit as a side.
- Italian: avoid the pizza’s and pasta. Go for grilled fish or chicken with veggies.
- Salads of any type: lots of veggies and protein, avoid cheese, pre-made salads, creamy dressings, croutons, etc.
- Mexican: go for the salad type options that were mentioned above or fajitas without the tortillas and cheese. skip the chips and salsa.
Generally speaking…
- avoid the bread/chips & salsa/bruchetta/and other starters
- avoid deep fried anything
- don’t be afraid to make alterations or ask for substitutions
- ask to see the “gluten free” menu if there is one available. It is usually a good place to start!
- look menu’s up online before you go. If you go with a plan in mind you won’t be found starving and frustrated.
- stop feeling sorry for yourself. If you want to eat healthy, it’s YOUR choice. Don’t sit looking at everyone else’s food, wishing you had a pizza. If you want to eat clean, be empowered by your will power.
- stop thinking that everyone is staring at you. If people are giving you grief about your healthy eating choices, it’s probably because they are feeling guilty that they aren’t making the same choices. Don’t let it make you feel like you are sticking out or that you should cave to peer pressure. Do your own thing, and let others do theirs! Not everyone will be on board with your choices, and that is their problem.
If you have any other restaurants you are curious about let me know! I would love to give you my two cents!