Dietary Advice Concerning Restaurants: Off Diet June 2, 2015

This was not so much a slip as a scheduled off-day. I had to meet a client for lunch and I am not going to pay restaurant prices for something like a boneless, skinless chicken breast and some celery sticks (if I can even find such things.)

I have gotten good at preparing diet foods in such a way as to make them edible. I use non-fat marinades like lime juice and I use a lot of pickled peppers, jalapenos and pepperocini. I also use spices to dress up dull foods.

I have seen stupid advice about how to eat at a restaurant if you are trying to lose weight. My advice is to avoid restaurants when dieting. I realize we have business meetings, lunches with co-workers that affect office politics, vacations, visits from relatives, etc. Not every social situation is avoidable.

But....do not pay entree prices for a lettuce salad. Do not pay restaurant prices for diet food. Do not demoralize yourself by watching other people enjoy themselves with great food.

Most of us know good food. We also know great food. Good food sustains us. Great food makes us fat. We have been told good and great are enemies. They are certainly competitors.

I don't want to be on a diet for the rest of my life and I don't want to delude myself by calling my diet a lifestyle. When I am in weight loss mode I will sacrifice the great for the good. Should I hit that dreamed of "maintain phase," I hope I will enjoy great foods from time to time. For now, I will celebrate good food and stay out of restaurants as much as possible.

Sound dietary advice: stay home.