Frustrated about food!

[Imafitnessfreak]

Why does it seem like the only way I have healthy food choices is if I stay home? It seems like I cannot go anywhere and get healthy selections. Even if it a friendly get together at someones house, even the salad has mayo in it! Tortilla chips with cheese, hamburgers, potatoe chips, crackers, french bread with a cheese/pepperoni dip, birthday cake and ice cream...I am tired of it!

Then, to top it off, the hostess is buzzing around "did you eat, did you eat?"

I even think it can be tough to find restaraunts with healthier options. So tell me, what is your favorite healthy place to eat outside of your home?

 

[dss62467]

You know...I'm guilty of this. If I'm making something to take to a get together, it's always somewhat unhealthy. I'm more concerned with it tasting good and the majority of people aren't interested in healthy. I do use light mayonaisse, though. I make a good tossed salad too, which is really the only healthy thing I make that ever gets eaten at get togethers.

If I'm out and need to grab something to eat, I'll get a grilled chicken salad from McDonald's or Wendy's. The grilled chicken and bacon with light dressing is good at Micky D's and the mandarin orange with light dressing is pretty good at Wendy's. I don't put on the crispy noodles, but do use most of the almonds. It takes me a lot of willpower at Wendy's, though, to not get the classic single combo because I'm a burger and fries addict.

 

[hippahips]

There is a restaurant near our neighborhood called Fish City Grill. They have the best salmon salad, with a 4 oz. salmon on a generous bowl of greens with just the right amount of vinaigrette dressing.

My other "tricks" when it comes to eating out are:
* order a grilled chicken salad (usually caesar) with dressing on the side
* find the "right bites" or "low fat/low carb" items on the menu and get those, usually -- again -- grilled chicken with vegetables and rice
* at Mexican places, I order fajitas, where the meat, rice, lettuce, cheese, guacamole and tortillas are served on separate plates
* at Japanese places, I order the salmon or chicken in the bento box, where the rolls, rice, fruits, tempura and salad also come in different compartments (these can be pricey though)
* at Chinese restaurants or dimsum places, I always make sure there's a big vegetable dish aside from the meat dish that we get; meat that's sauteed is better than the one that's fried
* simply skip the Italian places because I am gaga over fetuccine alfredo and will eat extra helpings of it
* when all else fails and all I can get to is a fast food place, I pick a salad or a grilled chicken sandwich

When I'm at a friend's house and all this food is pushed in front of me, I pick grilled over fried, baked with the fewest extras instead of those baked with cheese and whatnot and have lots of greens with that. And for dessert, I would pick fruit salad over pie. If I simply can't help myself and overindulge, I'd wake up early the next day and do IMAX2 first thing, without anything in my system.

Pinky

 

[claridge]

Oh I understand completly

Theres fast food on every corner you stand and you really have to have will power to take a extra moment and think about what you SHOULD be buying to eat.

Tuna suchi, a punnet of fruit salad and yougert, or a Junior Mac Burger and a garden salad is what I try and aim for. Even Subway can be healthy if you make a healthy choice of sandwich.

For get togethers, I like to take a bean salad, or homemade vegetarian pizza. Something I know I and my DH will eat because other people havent made the healthiest choices, and then at least we wont starve.


Marion

 

[Imafitnessfreak]

I have no problems staying away from fast food joints. Actually, DH, kids and I were running errands today and we had time between appointments and I promised the kids french fries so we went to McDonalds. I sat there happily sipping from my sports size water bottle and stole some sips from DH's coffee. I have no problems refusing fast food, grosses me ou...actually.

My big frustration is with party's and sit down restaurants. I think my best bet is to bring a healthy dish. What healthy dishes do you bring to party's? Share your recipes please!!!!