The Stressed Eater

If you are eating out more than usual these days, then you are on a diet. Eating out involves eating in front of the television, while talking on the phone, or while being the parent of a teen. It is an unavoidable part of most people’s lives. No matter where you are, eating out can be stressful. When the person in question is eating very hungry, the restaurant can be a stressful experience.

In US and Canada, we are taught that when we are hungry, we can eat at any restaurant; any food will do. However, statistics show that the vast majority of us are eating out on a regular basis, and a large percentage of those meals are stressed out meal where we eat simply because we are too stressed to order what we want.

In order to eat healthy, control your hunger, and maximize your energy that goes into whatever activity you are participating in, you need to learn how to order your meal. Figure out what your goal is, make a plan. Before you order, ask the questions, “How can I make this part of my habit?” or “Can you do this with me?” Let’s look at what your potential choices are.

• Order fruit, vegetable or salad with low-calorie dressing. You can reduce calories by selecting low-fat, low-calorie dressings without any extra cost. If you cannot order this way, ask.

• Ask for sauces and condiments on the side. You can save several hundred calories from your meal. If you are not in the habit of ordering your food this way, you can ask. You can order dressings, but if you do, you will be less likely to eat them.

• Skip the appetizer. An appetizer is an optional part of your meal. If you skip it, you are likely to fill yourself with more calories than your meal can supply.

• Order wine with dinner. One study found that women who ordered a meal for wine with a dinner they did not consume at least 1-2 glasses of wine. And other studies have shown that alcohol is free or inexpensive.

• Pour yourself a health tonic. Vitamins and minerals can only be absorbed if they are present in a digestive fluid. Adding a squeeze of lemon to your drink can help you absorb these vital nutrients.

Dining Out ethically

Eat whatever you want, but remember, do not eat the bread or the butter. Do not order any foods in a caloric surplus. Most restaurants are notitaristic. They will not accommodate you. But once in a while, you can break your unhealthy routine by going out for a craving-yasho’hunkenrusto’mish.

In conclusion, you are what you eat. You can do whatever you want, but only in moderation. For better health, eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and other seeds; drink plenty of water and go easy on the alcoholic beverages.

I sense from a recent stroke that strongly affects my life the need to take more of the stairs to avoid my vehicle coming to a stop on the crowded streets. My body is still swollen from the accident that occurred last month. I do not walk nearly as much as I used to, and the walk is too much of a chore to do now. But now that I am back from the hospital and recovering faster than before, I can get back into the saddle and let my body rolls. No more driving to the corner store where I could get a snack; now what I like best is to walk in the malls and through the shops to get my supplies. And on my lunch break, I bargain with my employees to walk around my building and take a nice walk. A break outside from my desk is the best thing that can happen to me.

I was able to quit drinking coffee this year. One of the giving up pleasures was thest deliciousmilkI could not give up. My notion of a good cup of coffee now consists of only one shot of the availableDouble Chocolate Chip Frappuccinno, which I buy at a local confectioner. I save the second one for the holidays, too. I rush home to drink it with my holidays bars. No more Oreos and Smart Ones, either. I buy organic vanilla wafers and cream cheese, organic string cheese and hardboiled eggs for mymanaging proteins. And I have eliminated green tea, as I have every other beverage – water (filtered), decaf tea, rooibos, unsweetened black tea. I buy only as much as I need. Eliminating the bad drinks has helped me enormously. I now only drink and buy good stuff.

You will need motivation to quit. You will need company. You will need a partner. You might even need to switch sides. But it will be worth it.