Going out

From 1st October

Going out while watching the calories is a pain as you always feel you must either go for the salad or give the diet a night off. I like to go out for dinner a couple of times a week so these options aren't any good for me. There is a third way, all it needs is a bit of planning.

Most of the bigger chain restaurants print the calorie content of their meals online. I do realise that the chains aren't the most desirable of dinner destinations but they do have the advantage of guaranteed-mediocrity; you'll never get that fantastic meal you have to tell everyone about, but you know it won't be terrible and that's a big plus when you're with fussy eaters.

Before I go I always have a good look at the nutritional values on the menu and see what I can have. Surprisingly, you can have most things on most menus on their own but when you start adding starters and desserts you're in trouble. On the day I will make sure I leave enough spare calories to have what I want, I may skip breakfast or have a small lunch.

This week I went to a Pizza restaurant, I went for thin crust, less meat and cheese toppings, and more veg. I had a proscuitto and rocket pizza that had 900 calories, a chicken wing starter with 350, and no pudding, so 1250 in total. My daily limit is 2050 leaving me with 800 for breakfast and lunch, easy.

I also went to a carvery, I had gammon and loads of veg, easy on the roast potatoes and gravy. No more than 500 calories. Ice cream sundae for pudding, 400 calories. 900 in total so 1100 for breakfast and lunch, I could have had a starter as well.

It's quite easy with a bit of planning, it's when you go in blind and start having to choose between what you perceive as good and bad foods that it falls apart.