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Talking eating out today friends. I don’t know about you, but for me eating brings on a lot of anxiety. Even more so since being diagnosed with gluten intolerance. Whether you’re losing weight or dealing with food allergies, navigating a restaurant menu can be stressful. For those of you who do not have food allergies, you are lucky and the good news is with these tips you can eat out and lose weight and there are many healthy food swaps you can make too when eating out. BUT I have yet to figure this out for gluten and the whatever unknown allergies I may or may not have (still being determined).
Last weekend my Mom requested breakfast out after we worked out. Despite my anxiety, I reluctantly agreed. Why I don’t like going out for breakfast comes down to the mere fact that few restaurants offer healthy, low calorie breakfast much less one that’s gluten free. Truthfully, it’s not fun for me if I have to design my own meal, rearrange a menu and worry I’m going to get sick. Mom suggested BJ’s Restaurant, a few blocks from my house and assured me I’d like it there. To my surprise, it was good! They didn’t have gluten free options, however, I did get a nice egg white veggie omelette with a large bowl of fresh fruit. Because I am not celiac, the risk for me is much less than others. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. Truthfully, I don’t understand why more restaurants don’t offer healthy food options. Maybe that cafe I’ve always dreamed of opening isn’t such a bad idea after all?
So let’s see what I ate! If you’re new to Skinny Fitalicious, What I Ate Wednesday is a post I do every week showcasing my meals from one day. It’s fun to see what other people eat in a day and also great motivation for me to eat balanced and create more delicious recipes for you!
Brunch. BJ’s enlightened veggie egg white omelette with spinach, tomatoes, parmesan and feta and hearty bowl of fresh fruit. It was really good and so was the coffee too!
Snack. Blueberry hemp flaxseed muffin. Did you know this is one of my top 5 most pinned recipes? An oldie, but definitely a goodie. And if you want to see how very bad my pictures used to be, go check out the recipe and while you’re there make sure you pin it too!
Snack. My favorite green juice. My stomach’s been weird lately so I’ve been juicing more to give my digestive system a break.
Dinner. Vegan split pea soup. This new recipe you will be getting next week!
Snack. Siggi’s yogurt with raspberries, chia seeds and hemp hearts.
Do you find eating healthy when eating out difficult?
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Linking up with Peas & Crayons for What I Ate Wednesday
I think that you would love Mexico–especially where we were. Most of the foods are naturally gluten free, so you don’t really have to finangle around things, and many of the places now mark gluten free/vegan on their menus. I aI actually love going to breakfast or brunch out (as you know)–I’m a stickler when I order, and that might be annoying to some, but I get what I want!
I DO love Mexico. I worked there for many years. I used to joke that I am part Mexican. The only thing is they do use a lot of bread. I haven’t seen GF there, but it has been 2 or 3 years since I’ve been there.
I love going out for breakfast so long as the people I go with understand we need to go early lol. Lots of times I make it my brunch because I need to eat when I wake up but I don’t really have an issue with it, maybe because so many diners and restaurants here offer so many good options? My favorite out for breakfast meal is baked oatmeal. I have been craving it lately from the diner!
I would imagine you live in a good area. When I was in L.A. on a project for a few years, they had insanely good food everywhere. I think it just depends where you live.
When I first started eating paleo I was scared of being served something that would make me sick! I guess every time I go out I realize it could happen, and that it’s not the end of the world if it does. I also go for omelettes when out and always ask if it’s just eggs or it they put flour or something else in the mixture. I have 4 close friends who eat strict gluten free so going out with them is so much easier – strength in numbers!
For me it’s scary because I get sick invisibly with weakened hormones and bones. I think if I were dealing with a stomach flare-up it wouldn’t cause me as much anxiety. It’s nice that you have friends who can relate. I always get the eye roll when I’m out with my mine.
When I was nursing my son, I couldn’t have dairy or soy becuase he was intolerant. I totally get your anxiety eating out in that respect! We tried to stick to places that were chains and had an allergen menu (not ideal, but sometimes you have to eat out for time’s sake) But i was always worried that a day or two later my son would be miserable and crying.
It’s probably always a risk eating out, but you become more aware of it when you’re trying to avoid something or just be healthy. Sometimes you just do the best you can.
One of the reasons I don’t like going out for breakfast is that I don’t like waiting! I also love high volume meals and when I eat out it’s usually expensive and a small amount of food. Sad day:(
Glad you had a good experience though!
Haha…waiting is the worst!
I really love going out to eat – all meals. Only because I have a bucket list of so many restaurants and dishes to try. I think restaurants are doing a better job of offering healthy alternatives, (and gluten free menus, especially) but I can see where you are coming from if you follow a strict diet. I think flexibility is good and allowing yourself some wiggle room and time with friends/family out can be a good and fun experience!
I think it would be different for me if I had options other than Chilis and Applebees around me.
Eating out still does bring some anxiety for me because of previously eating disordered habits. The more God takes my eyes and puts them back on Him, the less anxiety I have, but it’s still a journey. <3
You’re such an inspiration Emily!
I don’t mind eating out for breakfast as long as I can get a nice veggie egg white omelet with some non-greasy breakfast potatoes!
You and me both Rachel!
It is always hard for me pick something then I am going out/ I am not picky eater, but I love quality and fresh food. And I wanna be fancy too, so any of boring green salads just don`t call my name 😀
A true foodie you are Marina!
It is so tough to eat out with food intolerances! My brunch go-to is also an egg white omelette 🙂 I do better without gluten but thankfully am not celiac, so when it’s the weekend and I’m brunching I always get a side of whole wheat toast! 90-10 rule 😛
I used to be the same, but you know I don’t even miss bread when I go out. I think I just know how much better my body feels when I eat the right foods.
Going out to breakfast is one of my favorite things, but I can definitely understand your apprehension. I always load up on waffles, delicious waffles, so we would do things a little differently haha.
Haha…we would compliment each other!
Whenever I go out for breakfast I find myself attracted to the french toast all various delicious varieties of it. It’s hard to order egg whites and oatmeal when theres so much more tasty food available!!
I don’t have a taste for the sweets much. After I starting eating healthy, I know how much better I feel when I eat the right foods than if I indulge. Now with my gluten sensitivity I don’t have a choice.
I’ve been GF (celiac) for 11 years and going out to eat is still stressful, although a lot easier now! I’ve found the most successs in ordering super simple, whole foods that don’t usually touch other things: like a sliced avocado, berries & 2 poached eggs. Waiters hate me but whatever! I hate paying for food that makes me sick. You would love Boulder, Megan! There are entirely GF restaurants here 🙂
I’ve been to Boulder and do love it. A lot of cute place there, but way too cold for me haha!
I can only begin to imagine how stressful it is eating out when you have food allergies. And I don’t blame you for wanting to eat at home for breakfast. I feel the same way about most meals because I don’t eat meat. The options are so limited when I eat out!
It sounds as if eating meatless has similar challenges. I totally get it!
What a coincidence you’re touching on this topic right now as it came up for me just the other day. The teaching institute I work for a few times a week had their belated Christmas “party” coming along as a brunch at a local hotel. I ended up not going as the price for the buffet was insane and I already guessed the vegan options would be scare, much less healthy. A colleague talking about it afterwards confirmed this. I’m sorry for missing a get-together but glad I saved myself the money and disappointment.
Many of my work events have been the same which is why I wouldn’t go. It surprised me how many people just didn’t understand why it was important to me.
I guess I dont understand all of your restrictions. I live in Phoenix and we have a TON of restuarants that accomodate GF diet and many of them are not chain restaurants? True Food Kitchen, The Good Egg, Kona Grill, Joes Farm Grill, Becketts Table, Postinos, Flower Child, Seasons 52…I could go on for at least another 20 places.
With the exception of the Good Egg, none of those places are in Glendale. Glendale has only chain restaurants. You have to remember Phoenix is a big place. If you live in a different side of town, things are completely different in other places than where you are.
I travel for work (like you used to!) and I do find it frustrating at first until I find my “regular” spots. I always have to ask them to use a dry pan whenever they cook anything or else it’s always doused in oil. And if I ask for a dry pan, they still use some oil, but it’s closer to the amount I would use in my own kitchen.
I used to feel the same! It was hard when I was going to a different place every week. It just felt out of control. It sounds like you have it down. It’s nice when you’re going to the same place all the time.