Balancing a healthy lifestyle can be a major challenge when eating out at restaurants if it is something new to you. In my opinion, it is something that requires a little bit of practice and training to get the hang of. I am far from perfect when it comes to eating right, however, as I have begun my journey back to healthy and happy, I have been doing my best to take it one step at a time and make smarter decisions where I can.
I am a food lover- especially all things not healthy, so for me it is all about balance and enjoying my favorite foods in moderation, because in the end this is what helps from falling back into bad eating habits.
I thought I would share some of the little swaps that I do when out to eat that help me maintain this lifestyle. Again, my habits are not perfect!
Acapulco:
Whenever I go out for Mexican, I pretty much always order steak fajitas with no tortillas, no beans (ew), and sometimes I have them leave out the sauce if the fajitas are coated with it. I try not to finish the rice every time, but it’s tasty when everything gets all mixed together.
Applebee’s:
Sometimes I want steak, and sometimes I try to keep it a little more healthy and stick to chicken. I LOVE the plain grilled chicken breast at Applebee’s with broccoli and mashed potatoes. Their green beans and caesar salad are always good too!
Arby’s:
I love the roast turkey ranch and bacon market fresh sandwich from Arby’s. I only have it about once a year, but it is delicious and a great alternative to the other sandwiches and fries, although their curly fries are the best.
Boston’s:
Every time I go here I order the Cobb salad, usually with grilled chicken. Make sure the dressing comes on the side so you can determine the amount that get’s used- restaurants often drown salads with dressings, which can add a ton of unnecessary calories.
Chick-fil-A:
If you aren’t in the mood for just a salad, go for a grilled chicken sandwich instead of crispy, and get a side salad or fruit cup instead of fries.
Chipotle:
I almost always order a bowl with chicken, fajita veggies, pico, corn, hot salsa, lettuce, and guac! I’ve been able to skip the rice and sour cream for a little over a year now, and it is so good without it! The guac acts as a dressing in itself and I don’t miss the loads of delicious sour cream.
Clive’s Roadhouse:
Clive’s has great food overall, but this steak stir-fry is a favorite of mine.
Kendall’s Tavern:
Never had anything here but the beef and veggie kabob’s, caesar salad, and mashed potatoes! So delicious.
Lucky’s 13 Pub:
EVERYTHING at this restaurant is amazing, so it is hard for me to eat healthy there, which is okay sometimes. The blackened chicken caesar wrap is probably my favorite menu item. Unfortunately (or fortunately), they changed their fries though and no longer have shoestring, which is disappointing but better for my health…lol.
Texas Roadhouse:
I won’t lie and say I skip the rolls with butter at Texas Roadhouse, and props to anyone who can! This isn’t a healthy meal, but it’s a better alternative than going to McDonalds in my opinion. I go for the steak kabob’s every time, with seasoned rice and a caesar salad.
Willy McCoys:
Every menu item is awesome at this restaurant too, so it is hard to be really good, which is why I make little swaps to balance out the meals a bit. I always get a side salad or the fresh veggies and dip for my sides, and still enjoy their great burgers and sandwiches.
If I could eat out at a restaurant every day, I seriously would. I love getting out of the house and enjoying delicious food. If I actually did that though, I would be broke and much more unhealthy!
Question for You:
How do you balance a healthy lifestyle while still going out to eat?
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