After a week of prepping meals and carefully avoiding temptation, it can be a let down when you finally do decide to treat yourself by eating out and ruin your hard work. Restaurants are filled with greasy bites and decadent sweets, but most of them nowadays also have healthier options. You do not have to banish yourself to a life of eating at home when you decide to make healthier food choices. There are ways to still eat out while also being healthy. Here are some tips to help keep you on track:

Be Firm

Before you head out for a meal, remind yourself of your health goals so that you stick to them. Ask yourself if excessive indulgence for one evening will be worth offsetting all the hard work you put in during the week. Mentally prepare yourself to make the right choices and decide for yourself that you are worth eating healthy for. You deserve to have the body you want, and food does not have the power to stop you from achieving your goals.

Plan Ahead

If you can, try to decide ahead of time what you want to eat. Most restaurants have their menus online now and even have items marked as healthy options. It is much easier to make the healthy choice when before you are starving and smell all the food around you while you are sitting in there. If you decide ahead of time, you will also get your food sooner since you can tell your waiter right away.

Choose Whole Foods

Pick full meals that have a balance of unprocessed protein, vegetables and non-greasy carbs. Choose a meal that incorporates items like grilled chicken (instead of fried) or fish with steamed vegetables, salad, and rice or (unfried) potatoes. A well-balanced meal will fill you up, tastes amazing, and you can enjoy it without the guilt.

Skip Sauces and Dressings

A dollop of sauce here and there can add up quickly, and many are laden with sugar and chemicals that are not ideal for your health. You can quickly counter the benefits of a salad by smothering it in sugary, fatty dressing. Instead, ask for the dressing on the side and choose a vinaigrette instead of a cream one. That way you can dip your fork in it and drizzle your salad lightly, so you still get the added flavour without added hundreds of calories to your meal.

Drink Lots of Water

Avoid adding more calories and sugar to any meal by sticking to water. Drinking it throughout your meal will also fill you up more so that you do not overeat. Coffee and tea are fine as well; just be sure you do not add sugar to it. Use honey instead if you need it sweetened.

Load Up on Veggies

For your side, choose fresh or steamed vegetables. You will save yourself from consuming too many calories since most places do not offer whole grain carb options. You could also have a salad as a main, but be sure to add some sort of protein to it so that you stay full for longer.

As long as you keep these tips in mind, you should be able to indulge in a meal out once in a while without compromising your health. If you want to supplement your diet with even more health benefits, visit 12 Baskets. As a natural health food store, we have a variety of products that are sure to have you feeling your best.