Ever leave a restaurant feeling so stuffed that you can’t wait to get home to unbutton your pants and crawl into the fetal position? I know I have.
We can get carried away in the moment with all of that rich, delicious food that we can’t wait to eat, while distracted by the conversation with friends.
We sometimes don’t even realize how much we’ve ate, until we feel that feeling…..You know it, too! Oh man…I just ate to 120% full, prepare to enter FOOD COMA!
We’ve all been there, and we know it doesn’t feel good. I think it is wise to always think about your food choices when you are at a restaurant and really ask yourself, “How is that food going to make me feel after I eat it?” Is it going to make me feel energetic or lethargic, guilty or regretful, or will I really enjoy it?
What Causes Food Comas?
There are 3 main food ingredients that can cause the infamous FOOD COMA. Too much processed/refined Carbohydrates, Sugar, &/or Fat at a meal or snack. Sometimes there are certain foods that have a mixture of all 3 going on, like pastries & sweets or mashed potatoes w/ butter & gravy….you get the point.
FOOD FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), while at a restaurant. FOMO happens due to our scarcity mindset. A lot of people just go nuts when they get to a restaurant. Here’s the thing though, I know that I have access to rich foods anytime I want them, so there’s no need to over indulge every chance I get.
I also know I’m going to not feel as energetic after eating them, either. So before I indulge, I always ask myself, “Is this really worth it?” Does it even taste that great?” Sometimes the answer is YES…sometimes NO! You will have to practice and learn that for yourself.
10 Tricks for Eating Healthy When Dining Out
1. Share an entree, especially if it has any of the FOOD COMA ingredients listed above.
2. Always choose veggies and protein to take up most of your plate.
3. Practice eating slow and always leaving something behind on your plate (80% full).
4. Only take 5-8 bites of delicious treats that are rich and creamy.
5. Choose BOOZE or BREAD, but not both! If you’re going to eat carbs…don’t drink them, too! I break this rule sometimes, but I try to stick to it as much as possible, and really limit one or the other.
6. Only one carb source per meal. We don’t need hash browns and biscuits at the same meal….too many carbs. We also don’t need to eat a whole serving of rice and tortillas at a mexican restaurant. Choose just one carb, but eat your veggies and protein first. Sometimes you will find that you are full enough from that and don’t really need the extra food anyways.
7. Eat like you do at home. I know it sounds boring, but making the same choices at a restaurant that you would at home may prevent you from overindulging and feeling too stuffed, keeping you feeling on the lighter side.
8. Tell your waiter to take the chip or bread basket away, or move it out of your arm’s reach.
9. Really stay mindful of how certain foods are going to make you feel after you eat them. I like to ask myself, “How do I want to feel after this meal?”
10. Remember, you can always order more food if you need to. We don’t have to order everything at once. If you order something small and don’t feel satisfied, you can always order more food. The more food that is placed in front of us….the more we will eat…it’s just basic human psychology! This is why some professionals advise people to box half of their entree in a TO GO box before eating. Portion sizes are so big here in #merica ;).
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Remember, we always have a choice, and just because we are at a restaurant or dining out with friends doesn’t mean we have to go all out and eat everything in sight. We can indulge a little, but still be able to keep our pants buttoned, too! 😉
Thanks for stopping by,
Tommie