Don't let a diet deter you from having a good time
When eating healthily or on a diet, dining out at your favourite Italian, Chinese or Indian restaurant can seem a million miles away.
“It’s often simpler to eat in and stick to the home cooked foods you’re familiar with. However, you can follow a low carb eating plan like Atkins quite easily, even when you’re out,” explains Atkins nutritionist, Linda O’Byrne.
Here, Linda shares the best options to select from the menus of your favourite restaurants.
Chinese
The best choice would be a stir-fry such as chicken, beef, tofu or prawn; however, make sure that you check that the protein isn’t breaded or battered. It’s also better to avoid sauce on your stir-fry as these will typically be loaded with sugar. Peking duck and Moo shu (chicken/pork or prawn) are good choices, but avoid the sauce and pancakes. Obviously noodles and rice are out so ask for extra veggies, if needed.
Italian
Skip past the pasta, rice (such as risotto) and pizza sections as they are all sky-high in carbs. Antipasto is a great choice for a starter as it consists of assorted meats, cheese and vegetables. Some main courses such as Chicken Piccata or Scaloppini are ok too but ensure they aren’t breaded. Most ‘fresh’ tomato sauces don’t contain a lot of sugar, if made true Italian-style, however, check with your waiter first to see if the sauce contains any added sugar.
American
Burgers and cheeseburgers are fine as long as you ditch the bun and accompany with a salad instead of chips. Steak or grilled chicken are both great choices paired with a salad. Avoid deep-fried dishes, which are breaded and may contain harmful trans-fats.
French
Popular “Atkins-friendly” meals include Boeuf Bourguignon, Coq au Vin (without potatoes or carrots) or Steak au Poivre. If you choose a sauce, ensure it’s thickened with egg yolks and not flour.
Indian
Avoid rice as a side when choosing a curry. Good choices include meat or fish tandooris or curries. Meat or chicken kebabs are ideal but obviously avoid naan or chapatti bread, and most starters are fried in batter so should be avoided.
Linda concludes: “Restaurants love repeat customers so don’t hesitate to ask what’s in a dish – say you have an allergy if you’re embarrassed!”