My Guide to Eating Out

Let's be real, may times as a busy mom it's just easier to eat out. Yes pre planning is preferred, and should be what we all do, but honestly that gets exhausting and sometimes it's just not realistic. When I first started working full time I planned meals, I cooked all the time. I was a planning, prepackaging machine. But over time that faded. I was just too tired. I hated cooking. I would come home at 6pm and have two hours till bedtime, with homework, showers, stories, and dinner to fit in. The last thing I wanted to do after being at work all day was cook. So we started eating out… a lot. It got a tad out of hand honestly and I fully intend to reign it back in by finding easier, quicker meals to cook at home.

Eating out doesn't have to be all bad though. Seriously it can be just as healthy as eating at home, and you can still reach your goals. My best advice is make sure you eat at places that provide nutrition information. This is huge.

This is my personal guide to eating out. It may not be a good fit for everyone, but this is how I do it. I stick with places I know serve fresh foods. I tend to avoid fast food places like McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy's or pizza places. Just say no. In a pinch however I know how to eat healthy at these places too.

My go to places are Qudoba, Subway, Jimmy Johns, ModMarket, Whole Foods, and Panera.

Qudoba: DO NOT GET A TORTILLA. Seriously it's 350 extra calories of white flour you DO NOT NEED. Stick to brown rice if you want rice. I always skip the beans. Beans just don't agree with me and are extra calories I don't want. I typically skip the sour cream in favor of avocado. I usually always get cheese. I love cheese. Any meat is good. The pork is actually lower in calories than the chicken, but I usually get chicken anyway. My meal is almost always a salad without the dressing, and without the tortilla bowl, with chicken, fajita veggies, cheese, pico, and avocado. It's delicious! Sometimes I will do a naked burrito with brown rice, chicken, cheese, pico and avocado. Their website is super helpful and you can easily customize your meal and see the nutrition content.

Subway: My kids love being able to make their own sandwich and I can easily find something healthy. I trade white bread for wheat and get ham and turkey. I get pepper jack cheese, and load it with veggies. Sometimes I'll get a little bit of light mayo as well. But I try to skip that, and use olive oil and vinegar instead. If I get chips I get the baked ones.

Jimmy Johns: I love them because they also offer nutrition info and the legendary un-which. You can get any of their sandwiches with a lettuce wrap instead of bread. I always get the Beach Club with no bread, and no mayo. It's about 350 calories and it fills me up. Love it!

ModMarket: You pretty much can't go wrong here. All calories are listed on the menu. At lunch I get a half order of whichever salad I am craving, and for dinner I will usually get the roasted chicken, with a side of mashed sweet potatoes and arugala salad. It's amazing.

Whole Foods: they do not list nutrition info per say, but if you stick to the salad bar you are usually ok. I avoid anything with pasta or potatoes and just load up on veggies. I measure out a small container of dressing and go light on the cheese and or nuts.

Panera: Here again the calories are listed on their menu so it's pretty simple to choose. My favorite is their power chicken hummus bowl. They don't always have it so I will get a salad usually. Any will do, they are all pretty low cal.

As far as fast food goes, in a pinch I will get grilled chicken nuggets from Chik-Fil-A, and a cup of fruit or side salad. At McDonalds for breakfast I will get an egg white McMuffin, and for lunch a salad. I avoid Taco Bell altogether. Most places will offer healthier options you just have to have the willpower to make them while smelling fries :)

Sometimes I will go out for breakfast with friends or my husband and I will order simple. Scrambled eggs, bacon and a side of whole wheat something. Or a side of fruit. Keep it simple and you won't have to worry about too many calories.

And that's how I eat out without ruining my diet or packing on the pounds.