Healthy Eating Tip for Eating Out - Asking the waiter to take the bread basket/corn chips from your table
Bread or corn chips put right in front of you when you’ve just sat down to eat is nigh on impossible to resist - especially if you’re hungry which, as you're sitting in a restaurant, is probably going to be the case. Having a plan of how to deal with this situation before it happens will help enormously in making sure you handle it successfully.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
- “If I have oil with it, it won’t be as bad for me” – Olive oil (as do all oils) contains calories (in fact, more calories than butter). Using olive oil instead of butter will be beneficial to your heart, but it will not help to shrink your waistline
- “It’s free so why not have it?” - It may be free, but not free of calories – one small roll will be 1 portion on your Nutrition Card® Cereals & starch section – add 3 teaspoons of butter or oil and that’s 1 portion from your Sauces & spreads target for the day.
Tips and Tricks
- If you’re dining on your own, tell the waiter you do not wish to have any bread brought to the table. If you really want some, ask that only one piece is brought to you, not the whole basket.
- If you feel you have to have some, take one piece and pass the rest on quickly - as if you’re playing pass the parcel!
- If it's corn chips (often found in Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants) and you want some, take 10 corn chips (whole ones of course) and ask for the rest to be taken away or put them out of reach. Keep the salsa though, because it’s very low in calories; but try to skip the blue cheese and/or guacamole, which are both high in calories – a tablespoon would be 1 portion on from the Sauces & spreads section of your Nutrition Card®).
- In restaurants where things like poppadums or Chinese prawn crackers are served, be aware that these are deep fried.
- If you're in a group, ask if anyone else wants bread – if nobody does, tell the waiter not to bring any (once it’s on the table it will be harder to resist). If others do want it make sure the basket stays out of your arm's reach.
- If others order a bread basket, get the waiter to take away your side plate (if there is one) to remind you, and others, that you’re not eating bread.
- If you really want something to eat before your meal arrives, ask for a simple green salad; or an onion and tomato salad (opt for the last one only if you’re not on a first date or looking to pull). Ask for any dressing that comes with it to be served on the side - you can then add as little as you want.
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