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If you're trying to lose weight, you will know how difficult it can be to stick to your diet when surrounded by kilojoule-laden temptations.
Follow these eating-out tips for slimmers, taken from The Brain Surgeon's Diet, and you will be able to enjoy a good night out without the extra guilt or weight in the morning.
- Fast foods are mostly a no-no. If you really want to eat fast foods, eat solid meats such as steak rolls or chicken fillet burgers instead of patties and opt for non-crumbed options.
- Do not have chips or French fries; they are laden with fats and kilojoules. Try to reduce the dressings, especially mayonnaise.
- When going to a restaurant, keep in mind that the different restaurants will have different choices that will be different in their nutriiton and kilojoule values. Going to a pizzeria is not nearly as wise as going to a seafood restaurant. Therefore put some thought into the choice of restaurant.
- Before going to a restaurant, have a healthy snack such as a fruit to reduce your appetite.
- Have bottled water before you eat.
- Use alcohol sparingly. It is loaded with kilojoules, increases appetite and reduces self-control. Drink reduced-kilojoule wines or add a block of ice or soda water to your wine.
- Use sugar-free mixers with spirits.
- Have salad and soup before you eat your main course to reduce your appetite. Be careful that the salad does not have lots of cheese in it or unhealthy salad dressings.
- Make sure that you choose wisely for the main course. Choose protein dishes that are filling like lean meats or fish. Ask for sauces and dressings on the side and use sparingly.
- Having a salad and soup will allow you to have a very healthy, small main dish.
- It is better to have a sweet coffee afterwards, rather than dessert.
- Avoid the cheese platter; it is a kilojoule-laden trap.
Remember, it all starts with the food you shop for, the way you prepare it, the way you present it and how you eat it. Then you must not spoil it when you take a well deserved break and go to a restaurant. You can eat healthy, enjoy the food you eat, never go hungry and still look fabulous.
This is an extract from The Brain Surgeon's Diet, a book written by South African brain surgeon Dr W Adriaan Liebenberg in which he shares his personal journey of weight loss. Visit www.brainsurgeonsdiet.com for more info or to order the book.
- (Health24, November 2011) (Image: iStock)
Read more:
The ultimate guide to weight loss
More eating out tips
New diet? Don't feel deprived
