Those Pesky Restaurant Menus

Journal entry for 6/3/24

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Going to restaurants can be difficult for someone trying to lose weight. If I see chicken fried steak or a big, juicy, bacon cheeseburger on the menu, I start salivating! It's tricky to navigate through the food brochure and ignore those things that you really want to order, but know you shouldn't! I save those for my weekly splurge day meal. It gives me something to look forward to!

Since I decided to get healthy, I have restaurant staples that I order and they work for me. When I eat at cafes or diners, most places have a grilled chicken salad and I get the dressing on the side. It is usually Italian or a vinaigrette. It makes me crazy when they douse your salad with too much dressing! It tastes like eating dressing and not what I ordered!

With Mexican food I usually get the taco salad with the dressing on the side. If you go to Maudie's in Bee Cave, TX, for instance, they have the Skinny TEX_MEX menu with dishes at 500 or less calories. I order the Skinny Sheryl dish: Two pulled chicken enchiladas, lettuce, tomato, and choice of tomatillo or tomatado sauce, served with grilled zucchini and rice. My mouth is watering thinking about it!

Seafood is my favorite food! Hands down! As long as you don't order the fried or loaded in butter dishes, you can eat most of those lovely ocean creatures you want. Grilled is always best and what I typically go for now! Shrimp cocktail is another great option. If you go to Red Lobster, watch out for those Cheddar Bay Biscuits! I could eat a whole basket of those by myself if not careful! I love the coconut shrimp with the pina colada sauce. I will knock you over for that! Red Lobster is a splurge day meal for me. I know my limitations!

Wonderful Asian food! I love the broccoli chicken, cashew chicken or chicken teriyaki served with steamed rice. When you eat half the plate (which is usually huge portions), it is two meals for the price of one and you are keeping your calorie count lower as well.

Italian food is reserved for a splurge day. Everything I enjoy eating is high calorie. I have limited my time at these restaurants until I reach my goal weight and will probably continue to do so after. Bread and pasta are not good for me or my hormones. Knowing what foods affect you negatively is key to losing weight. This is one of my weaknesses...

There are many other spectacular cultural foods that I could list, but this entry would be several pages! I can navigate the menu now and look for the healthier options. It was hard, at first, but in time I learned what dishes to order at each food establishment and it didn't affect my weight. Win Win!

Philippians 4:11- "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."