Posts Tagged ‘raw cashews’
Eating out, eating sane
Do you have an upcoming business lunch? Or are you meeting friends at the mall for a bite to eat? Or did you forget to pack your lunch and have to grab something on the go?
No matter what the eating-away-from-home scenario, don’t let dining out spell disaster for your commitment to healthy eating. Despite what many of us with a “diet mentality” think, there are ways to enjoy a meal while dining out without wrecking your dieting and exercise efforts.
When it comes to being out to lunch (or dinner), there are some helpful tips that will come in handy the next time you’re facing a restaurant menu:
Before You Arrive:
Try munching on a quarter cup of healthy nuts like Raw Cashews or Raw Almonds (no oil, no salt, no roasting). These protein-powered munchies will actually help fill you up before the meal and, therefore, make some of the restaurant’s more fattening options less tempting. You don’t need too many nuts to do the trick. So make sure you measure the quarter cup portion so you’re not adding too many calories to your total lunch intake.
Start Your Engines:
Soup or salad can be the perfect way to begin a meal. Make sure soups are vegetable based with no dairy (this can often translate to no fat). Also, ask for salad dressing on the side. Try dipping your fork in the dressing before putting it in the salad. You’ll get all the flavor without all the calories.
Words to the Wise:
Menus often contain key words you want to watch out for: Grilled or Broiled. These are usually safe bets, although you should always ask for the item to be delivered “plain” (no added oil, butter or fat). And be sure to avoid these menu warning words: Sautéed, Creamed or Fried (in other words, “Just say No” to any dishes that begin with these diet-busting key words).
Be Loud, Be Proud:
You have nothing to be embarrassed of when it comes to making a special request while dining out. Remember that there’s absolutely no shame in eating healthy and asking your server to keep the starchy sides (rice, potatoes, etc.) off of your plate. You don’t have to explain to anyone you’re dining with what you’re doing. After ordering, just offer a smile of confidence that will come from knowing you’re making healthy decisions that are going to keep you committed to your goal (not to mention keep you looking good and feeling great).
And remember: for all your dining companions know, you’re not on a diet – you’re a supermodel who has to walk the runway later that afternoon, which, by the way, you areand do. (I proclaim it to be so for anyone reading this!)
No doubt about it. Restaurant survival is an important part of being healthy for life. And learning to take the fear out of dining out is a major step toward total overall health (mentaland physical). That success entails learning, adapting and breaking old habits. And together, we can do it!
(Feel free to share a recent success if you have one – or even a challenge… We’re all in this together!)
Photo Source: Pinterest
Vacationing 101
If you’re like me, sometimes the thought of stepping away from your normal routine (even if for a vacation or relaxing getaway) can inspire fear because it means being away from “normal” dieting eating patterns. But don’t panic! You deserve to get away just like everyone else. And these easy-to-remember vacation tips will make going away on a summer trip both easy and fun – and will certainly help you to avoid wrecking your dieting efforts (and success thus far) while you’re away.
Dine Wisely
Believe it or not, you can indulge while on vacation. Have as close to a diet-like Breakfast and diet-like Lunch as you can, depending on what’s available from the room service or restaurant menus. Then, have what you really want for dinner. Just make sure you limit your portions. A general rule to follow is to eat half of what is served. Yes, that means you can enjoy even richer foods that you’d normally avoid when at home, sticking to your commitment to healthier eating. In this case, portion control is key! You can even have some fresh fruit with whipped cream for dessert every other night (make it a treat!). And after dinner, try taking a walk to help digest your food.
When wanting to order healthier options, look for fish or meat dishes that are grilled or broiled. Stay away from anything sauteed or fried.
Try eating a handful of raw cashews before going out to eat to help curb that “starving” feeling before ordering. Entering a restaurant when you’re ravenous can often spell trouble (not to mention overindulgence).
Move Daily
Call ahead to find out if the hotel you’ll be staying at has a workout room or gym. And be sure to pack appropriate workout gear. Make sure you don’t have any excuses not to workout while away.
Try working out first thing in the morning to make sure you squeeze it in without missing out on any of the fun your traveling companions have planned for the rest of the day.
Dive in! The hotel swimming pool is great place to get exercise. Try swimming as many laps as possible – even if you’re just “Doggy paddling.” The water provides a sort of ‘resistance training’ for your muscles and thus can help tone and strengthen your gorgeous bod (yes, I’m talking to you)!
Also try renting bikes and taking your own tour of the area you’re visiting.
Snack Safely
The key to not over-indulging while away is to eat regularly and never starve yourself. This means scheduling healthy snacks and having them available the instant you need them. You can plan ahead and take them with you, or plan to hit a grocery store once you arrive at your destination. (Bring small plastic bags in your luggage for dividing snacks into proper-sized portions.) Try these healthy options while you’re away:
Raw Cashews or Raw Almonds from Health Food Stores (easy to pack, easy to snack on).
Fresh fruits (much healthier than dried fruits, which are sweeter, more concentrated and easier to over-consume. Also, a lot of dried fruit contains added sugar, which increases its already high calorie levels).
Don’t Forget the Water
Too often while away from our normal routine and/or environments, we forget to drink as much water as our bodies need. Let’s face it, it can be hard enough remembering to drink water while at home. So this difficulty only increases when away from home, on vacation. Plus, bottled water can be super pricy when getting it from your hotel room’s mini bar or even from the hotel’s convenience store. Thus, whenever I travel, I make it a point to stop at a local grocery store (where I can stock up on affordable bottled water that I can drink throughout my stay) as soon as I arrive to town. Sound like a hassle? Too bad! Your health is worth the extra step (and expense)!
Most Important? Have Fun!
The whole point of getting away is to detox the mind. Enjoy yourself and don’t be too obsessed with what you’re eating or when you’re eating it. The more relaxed you are, the more in-tune you’ll be to your senses (and even your hunger). Make choices that feel good, taste good and don’t leave you feeling stuffed and miserable (mentally or physically). After all, the last thing you want to deal with while being away is having clothes feel too tight or the feeling of “Being stuffed” keeping you hidden away in your room and from enjoying your surroundings.
Do you have any tips or tricks in regard to vacationing without guilt – and without ruining your dieting efforts up-to-now? I’d love for you to share them by commenting below. Until then? Wish you were here! (Oh, wait — you are! And I sure do appreciate that!)
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