Eating Out While Trying to Lose Weight

By: Scottsdale Weight Loss Center

Published: March 19, 2021

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Preparing your own food will keep you in complete control of your diet. It’s the best way to ensure a healthy meal. So try to limit eating out during your medical weight loss program.

How to Break the Habit of Eating Out

Eat breakfast at home or bring your own breakfast to work.
Bring your lunch from home every day.
Cooking dinner at home at least five nights per week. Every night, if possible.

These are good rules to live by, but there’s still a good chance that you’ll find yourself dining out sometime soon. If you do, don’t worry—it’s possible to find something healthy to eat at nearly any restaurant these days.

Healthy Habits for When You Eat Out

Ask for a to-go box. Sometimes, it isn’t the food itself that’s unhealthy, but the amount that’s served. Most restaurant portion sizes are enough to feed two people (or more). Ask for a to-go box when you order to measure out portions when your food arrives. Then immediately pack up the excess food to prevent yourself from overeating.
Make your meal a salad. Order one packed with veggies. Salads are low in carbs and fat, and overall a healthier choice. Try to avoid fatty toppings like cheese and bacon, and dressings like ranch and blue cheese. Choose a low-calorie dressing like a vinaigrette and order it on the side. That way, you’re in control of how much to pour on. A side salad can also be a great option if you need a healthier side with your meal.
Be careful of how it’s cooked. It may seem fine to order “mixed vegetables,” but if they’re cooked in butter or oil, they may not be as healthy as you think. Take a close look at how they’re going to cook everything you order, and if the menu isn’t clear, ask your server. Steamed, boiled, grilled, roasted, and broiled often mean a healthier dish because these cooking methods don’t need any added fat.

Though eating at home may be best, you can eat a healthy meal just about anywhere by making smart choices.

More Tips for Social Eating

This is How You Lose the Weight, Once and For All

If you’re ready to say goodbye to quick fixes that never last? And you’re serious about losing the weight for good? We’re the experts you can trust to guide you through a weight loss program that will not only take the weight off but keep it off.
Schedule a consultation with us today.

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Nick's Story

"I wish I would have come here first. We spend all our time reacting to the next great weight loss tip or program. It might work for a while, but does not last and we end up yo-yoing from one fad to the next – as we gain more weight." Read More

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Lost 44.5 lbs

"I had no trouble adhering to the meals and they really helped catapult my progress! The classes were so beneficial to me because they helped change my thinking about how I viewed health, nutrition, and fitness.

I will always have my relationship with Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. They truly helped me change my life forever." Read More

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Lost 60 lbs

"Dr. Ziltzer and everyone who I have come in contact with at the Scottsdale Weight Loss office have been so encouraging and I look forward to seeing them each week. It is now a year and 2 months later since I started. I am down 60 lbs., which is the average amount a 9-year-old weighs, it is crazy to think I lost a whole person! I feel amazing, I hit my goal weight in November 2021 just before Thanksgiving. Nothing on my body hurts anymore..." Read More

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