Dining out on a diet

Don’t let oversized portions and fat-rich menus ruin all your efforts to lose weight! Try these tips on how you can hit your favourite restaurants without compromising on your diet. Success guaranteed!

Let’s face it: you can’t destroy your social life just to avoid having to eat out. And if you do, the excess weight might not be the only thing you lose. So stop being a bore and adopt the following habits to maintain your waistline, even when you are out and about with your friends.

Bran conscious

Filling your stomach with some high-quality fibre is always a great way to avoid feeling hungry outdoors. Indulge in cold cereal with skim milk and sweetener (avoid sugar if possible). You can also add spoonfuls of fat-free fruit yogurt to your bowl. Fibres will take the edge off your appetite and also improve the digestive system, which ultimately reduces the stimulation of your gastrointestinal system at the next meal. You will feel full for longer and hence, eat less.

Water works

One of the healthiest things one can do for themselves is to replace fizzy drinks with water. A whole glass full of water right before food can help fill you up as well.

Slow and steady

For those who didn’t know, the satiety centre of our brains control our eating habits. What we need to do is trick this centre into believing it is not hungry. Eat slowly and allow the brain to realise you are eating helps. So take your time! Put your fork down between mouthfuls and savour your meal as long as you can. It might look displeasing but really helps.

Beat the bad breads

Love the taste of freshly-baked bread and butter? Great. Avoid it! Breadbaskets are full of fats and it is advisable to ask the waiter to take it back, even if it is complimentary.

Soups and starters

In case your friends decide to keep the bread basket, you should order a soup to keep your tummy occupied. Remember to avoid cream-based soups, though. Salad is another option for the diet-conscious.

Very veggie

Most meals come with the side option between rice and vegetables. You should always opt for the latter as they are both nutritious yet fulfilling. Supplant the veggies with proteins as they fill one up the fastest!

Multiple mini meals

The hardest part about dieting is waiting for the next meal time to come. Most experts advise having smaller but more frequent meals to make the wait easier. In fact, studies show that consuming four or five meals daily actually expedites weight-loss!

Enjoy eating

Instead of eliminating your favourite foods from your diet completely, simply cut down on the amount you consume.

Natasha Khalid is a doctor by profession. She likes to write about fashion, people and social affairs. She tweets @natashakhalidxs

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, September 13^th, 2015.