Girlfriends' Locker Room: Wine & dine

February 10, 2004

Wine & dine - a fine line

Yesterday April talked about the challenge of eating healthy at business lunches. This got us talking about the perils of restaurant meals. It's tough to eat right when you're dining out! Here are some tips:

YVONNE: Stay away from any sauces and creamy dressings in restaurants. Also, move that bread basket away from you. Eat your meat first, not the rice or pasta. Then when it is time to go to those things you are almost full. You don't want to leave the meat on your plate but the starches. Let the wait staff keep your water glass filled and keep emptying it while you dine.

APRIL: That's awesome advice...I do all the opposite!!!

JILL: That is wonderful advice, Yvonne. But I lose all discipline when I go out to eat. I'm a "food opportunist," as a friend of mine puts it and can't pass up the chance to order what I want and eat all of it. My philosophy of life is to maximize each moment and that includes making the most of eating out. Maybe if we ate out more, I'd find a way to control myself, but we don't. This weekend, we went to a wonderful Italian restaurant with our friends and she ordered a fish dish while I was up to my elbows in spicy red pasta. I admired her but couldn't bring myself to pass up the opportunity to indulge myself.

WENDY: I heard a good tip recently, which I think I sent to this group: Pick one vice: Wine, bread or dessert. You can only have one. That helps you moderate. And I love Yvonne's "meat first" tip...

LAURIE: Wendy, that's a good one! You get a reward for eating semi-wisely. Yvonne, great suggestion to eat meat first. My main strategy is not to eat everything that's served, unless portions are really small. And if you must eat bread, have it without butter. You probably won't eat as much...

JILL: My version of Wendy's would be to have the bread, wine and dessert and skip everything else.

WENDY: Aha, you have identified the problem with this suggestion: ACTUALLY DOING IT. Also, after you have the wine, who really says no to the bread and dessert?

My tactic has been to enlist my hubbo, who helps me say no (and I do the same for him).

THERESA: Would it help you all if calories and carb counts were listed on restaurant menues? Should restaurants be required to provide that info?

LAURIE: No! Ignorance is bliss.

YVONNE: Not really, I think. Most of us know what to avoid, it's just we let temptation take over. Anything on the menu in oil, fried, and/or in sauce is trouble.

WENDY: One more thought, and those of you who have seen what I eat can vouch for the fact that I actually do this one.

When I have a big lunch, like a business lunch, I have only the lightest of snacks for dinner.

No, it's not a great idea for daily health. But doing it even once a week really does NOT hurt. Just put something in your tummy -- carrots or popcorn are two of my favorites -- and go to bed. If you have totally pigged out, this will keep your total calories down.

Now, I open the floor to rants about what a bad strategy this is. WARNING: I am prepared to defend it.

LAURIE: Sounds like a great strategy, based on the first rule for keeping pounds off: Don't eat so much!

THERESA: Now that both my kids are off at college, I eat far fewer restaurant meals. Used to be when I'd get home late and have to feed them, the quickest, easiest option was going out. Now I rarely go out for dinner, and that makes eating light at suppertime a lot easier. When I go out for a business lunch, I usually am pretty disciplined. I'll get a big salad or a fish dish. Today I had the jambalaya at Rose Tattoo (but with TWO pieces of bread to help cut the spiciness of the soup!) I almost never have dessert at a restaurant, unless it's a big night out.

When we go to a diner or a fast food restaurant, I'm usually appalled at how unhealthy the menu choices are. And then I order up a big cheesesteak and fries.

YVONNE W: Try not to go into the restaurant too hungry. Eat something light before you leave home. Also, drink lots of water, eat plenty of veggies and if you must have dessert order the dessert, but eat only one or two, if you must, tablespoons.

Comments

I eat out once every blue moon, and then it's usually lunch. A chef's salad (minus the ham) does it for me. Other than that, I prefer my own cooking. I control the ingredients and darn, if it don't taste great!
R.C.

Posted by: R.C. on February 10, 2004 07:18 AM

Did you see today's story? It turns out Dr. Atkins was obese and had heart disease: http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/7918959.htm

Posted by: Ellen (another one) on February 10, 2004 01:36 PM

Great advice from everyone. Thanks. Portions seem so huge nowadays and the trick I've learned is to carve out the portion I'll allow myself before I put the first bite in my mouth. Another tip I heard is (this works and isn't as gross as it sounds) to take a spoonful of olive oil before you leave for the restaurant. Especially when I'm particularly hungry this keeps me from attacking the bread basket when it arrives and I can sometimes avoid it completely and wait for my salad. Alternatively, you can dip something small in olive oil and that will have the same filling effect.

If you can't deny yourself dessert, splitting one serving between two people is also a good tactic.

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