Post: #1

Can't find a topic on this and there ought to be one.

Now, we all know if you're serious about fitness and nutrition then you make your own meals so you know exactly what you're eating and how it was prepared. You also have full control of your portions and all other aspects; plus it's cheaper than eating out.

That said, sometimes you're in a situation where you need/want to eat out but you're at a loss on what to get/where to go that will adhere well to your strict diet. Most places serve super-processed food and/or are loaded with excess fat and chemicals to give it flavor.

Lately I find myself going to Chipotle often when going out. A burrito bowl with just brown rice, black beans, and 2x chicken is full of decent calories and a great ratio of macro nutrients.

Subway sandwiches on wheat bread are okay, but I'm sure the bread isn't whole-grain and the meat is very suspect, but I will go there in a pinch.

If at a restaurant with friends I will try to order some sort of non-batter-fried meat with hearty green veggies. Bison burgers are good if you're at a place that has them. Grilled chicken or steak. Baked potato or rice for starch.

Where do you go/what do you get for healthy and macro-friendly meals when dining out?

Post: #2

I purposefully give myself a lot of "macro" leeway when it comes to dinner I love eating and dinner is where I can really break out of the mold.

For eating out, I tend to avoid chain fast food unless it is Chick Fil A, Shake Shack, or In and Out.

When i'm feeling lazy, I generally spring for takeout from ethnic or hole in the wall food joints making sure whatever I get is loaded with protein. A lot of restaurants skimp on meat and go for carbs and that annoys me greatly. Food should always have way more protein than carbs.

Post: #3

I always check the menu for a steak and get a salad with it. Protein is my go-to.

Also if you have a Jason's deli nearby their salad bar is boss and all real organic stuff. I always have time for a roast beef with spicy mustard! JD even had Dublin Dr Pepper (real cane sugar) for a while until they got busted for offering it.

I'll have more ideas later when I'm back home.

Post: #4

(03-20-2016 03:06 PM)DJ-Matt Wrote:  I always check the menu for a steak and get a salad with it. Protein is my go-to.

Also if you have a Jason's deli nearby their salad bar is boss and all real organic stuff. I always have time for a roast beef with spicy mustard! JD even had Dublin Dr Pepper (real cane sugar) for a while until they got busted for offering it.

I'll have more ideas later when I'm back home.

There is a Jason's Deli right next to where I work. Wish I had seen this post before I got lunch.

Post: #5

Use MyFitnessPal to track your macros if you are not already.

MFP should give you a somewhat accurate measure of the macros in restaurant food. Tracking what you eat is key especially when you eat out a lot.

A lot of places have healthy options, like salad, steak, fish fillets, etc.

If your diet includes free meals and refeeds, eat out for those.

Post: #6

I personally find it counter-productive to spoil a good evening out by eating like a lesbian. I honestly don't think one meal makes any significant difference to anything assuming the rest of your diet and training is on point. I actually think it is a good thing used sparingly, it seems to me that the metabolism kicks into overdrive to compensate, or at least mine tends to. But then I don't eat out often.

That said, I think you're going to struggle to do better than a burrito, which is essentially a good healthy meal with great macros. Get a decent burger with new potatoes rather than chips and toss the bun, Vietnamese food is both delicious and largely extremely healthy, same with Jap food.

Post: #7

Eating out is why I don't think my BF will ever drop below around 20% again for anything other than the odd sporadic training camp. I've been half heartedly trying since Xmas (injuries getting in the way as usual) but life's too short to give up steak and red wine.

I eat out at least 3 times per week, often more.

I train 10 hours per week...which is the only thing stopping me turning into tony soprano.

Post: #8

If you prepare your own meals the majority of the time, then it's OK to eat out socially on occasions.

If you've recorded your macros with something like MFP, you'll soon learn to estimate your portions by eye-balling.

If you're going to eat out, likely at dinner time, usually the meals would be high in fats, carbs and overall calories and therefore all you need to do is to eat low fats and low carbs during the day to save up the calories and macros for that big social meal later.

When in doubt, eat slowly, and only until your hunger is satiated and not when your belly is bursting.

It's all very manageable. Don't need to eat like a fag while out with friends, nor just give up and pig out to destroy your hard work.

Post: #9

(03-20-2016 02:18 PM)General Stalin Wrote:  Lately I find myself going to Chipotle often when going out. A burrito bowl with just brown rice, black beans, and 2x chicken is full of decent calories and a great ratio of macro nutrients.

Subway sandwiches on wheat bread are okay, but I'm sure the bread isn't whole-grain and the meat is very suspect, but I will go there in a pinch.

If at a restaurant with friends I will try to order some sort of non-batter-fried meat with hearty green veggies. Bison burgers are good if you're at a place that has them. Grilled chicken or steak. Baked potato or rice for starch.

Where do you go/what do you get for healthy and macro-friendly meals when dining out?

At Chipotle, I usually get the salad but order with steak, extra veggies, black beans, and white rice with a tortilla on side. I like to eat a high content of vegetables to help out with my digestive system. It's also less filling than the burrito, which would put me in a food coma (no bueno during work week).

I'm typically not self-conscious getting a footlong anything at Subway, haha.

One of the things I do at Brazilian buffets is getting a salad first, rice, black beans, meat (unfried/bit of fried), and a lot of vegetables.

Getting older, I start to realize why aging people start to eat more boring bland stuff.

Certain foods become harder to digest as metabolism slows with age. Since I run and do weights after work hours, I need to eat something filling enough like white rice, meat, and veggies. I usually get tired fast in my workouts if eating a sandwich, burger, or noodle soups during lunch since it's not as filling as rice.

It's important for young active people in their growth years to eat stuff like pasta and brown rice, but it doesn't digest as well in my aging stomach these days.

Post: #10

If you want better digestion at any age, I recommend getting a slow cooker.

I can digest well regardless, but slow cooked meals help me spend less energy on digestion, which means more energy for training.

Post: #11

Rich Piana eats about 3-4 takeout meals a day.

Post: #12

I came up with some more good ones:

-Steak buffet places: coyote canyon, golden corral (kinda iffy sometimes), sirloin stockade. Just keep going back and filling up on steaks, avoid the calorie-laden sides. This is truly the test of a man: if you can just eat the steak and salad veggies. Also unlimited refills on milk.

-Wendy's: their chili is very meat-rich, and can be really chock full of it if you go after lunch or dinner and things have slowed down. A manager at Wendy's told me in order to keep up with demand and make sure the burgers are fresh they're always cooking them. At non-busy times or right after lunch, they'll have a surplus of cooked patties that'll go right into the chili because they're too "old".

These options though aren't super conservative though if you're trying to avoid non-organic or GMO foods. I have no reason to believe it's not just regular stuff.

Post: #13

BBQ places are another good option. Most will have smoked chicken/turkey breast then some variation of collard greens or green beans for vegetables.

Post: #14

I will go to BBQ joints often and get turkey and chicken if trying to be strict. The sides, even the veggies, are usually drenched in butter. Delicious but way too much fat content.

Going to a buffet with lots of meat sounds awesome...

Post: #15

Besides a few outliers like buffets/fast food, and maybe some Italian places, most restaurants prepare your food to order and it doesn't have to be high in calories if you can prepare a healthy version at home. Fettuccini Alfredo is not going to be healthy in any scenario. Be cautious of places that marinate their food heavily, but I think asking for plain grilled chicken/steak/fish should be an option due to all the food allergies kids have these days. Adding on some steamed broccoli or baked potato won't kill your waistline either.

Aren't a couple guys here a chef? Veloce and someone else maybe? I'd be curious to get insight, when a customer orders something "plain and dry", is that a fairly reliable way to cut out most of the salt and butter from entrees?

Post: #16

(03-21-2016 01:43 PM)Harvey Specter Wrote:  BBQ places are another good option. Most will have smoked chicken/turkey breast then some variation of collard greens or green beans for vegetables.

I agree. Around here you can get a half pound of brisket or smoked turkey for around $8, garnish it with some pickles, onions, or peppers. Or you can get 1/4 pound of meat, vegetables drowned in butter, fried sides, etc for $12.

It is much better bang for your buck to just order the meat by the pound and skip the overpriced, high carb/fat plates.

Post: #17

Bowl of Panera's All Natural Turkey Chili or Low-Fat Black Bean Soup

Both leave you feeling satisfied and able to carry out your mission the remainder of the afternoon

*ask for the apple instead of the hunk of bread they serve with it