Hi Lovers! After a fun filled weekend and some cheat meals (I ate bread, and it sucked) I thought I'd write a post on how NOT to do what I did. Eating out Paleo can be tough and if you're a social butterfly like me, it's inevitable. As long as you read this post you'll have some tricks up your sleeve that will leave you full and happy and without a cheat!! Yes, you'll have to ask your server a couple questions but just smile and tip well :)

General Tips: 

  1. When you first sit down, let your sever know that you're on a restricted diet. Ask them if they're familiar with the Paleo lifestyle and tell them that you're doing your absolute best to stay strict tonight. Tell him or her that you're a very good tipper and you apologize in advance for being a pain. Be sweet, friendly and smile during this process. After prefacing my meal with these phrases at a restaurant, I've NEVER had any issues.
  2. When you order, make sure to ask what type of oil they use in the dish. If they use vegetable or canola, just ask them to substitute butter or even better, ask if they have ghee!
  3. For drinks, always start with mineral water with a lime. If you want to have alcohol keep it to red wine or tequila, soda and lime.

For Each Cuisine: 

  1. At a Steak house: Think meat and veggies. Instead of a starchy side just order an extra large portion of veggies and a salad with oil and vinegar and lemon. Check out those filet mignon bites for an appetizer but don't eat the sauce.
  2. At a Mexican Restaurant: Think fajita bowl! Get 2 kinds of meat with the fajita veggies chicken and steak and add guac, salsa and jalapenos. You can also ask to turn any burrito into a bowl and just say hold the rice and beans. For chips and salsa/guac (my weakness I admit) ask if they have cucumber or bell pepper slices.
  3. At a Burger Joint: Don't forget to ask for a bunless burger (add bacon and avo duh) or
  4. At a Chinese/Mandarin Restaurant: Order without noodles or rice and nothing fried (yes this means no General Tso's Chicken). Just meat and veggie melange is delicious! I love chicken and veggie stir fry with Sriracha.  Also be sure to ask for gluten free soy sauce.
  5. At a Thai Restaurant: Tom Gha soup is the absolute best! Just mushrooms, chicken, coconut milk and lime.  *mouth waters* They also typically have really good meat and veggie dishes, my favorite is Pad Gai Krapow.  Curry is also a great option without the rice!
  6. At an Italian Restaurant: Chicken Picatta is my favorite dish for an Italian restaurant, just make sure you ask them if they bread it first!  If so, you can usually substitute a plain chicken breast. It's chicken simmered in butter and wine with capers.  Make sure to order a veggie or salad side. You can also keep your eyes out for meatballs and marinara without pasta.  It's good to ask if they use sugar in their marinara as well! If you get stuck here, order a big dinner salad without croutons and a piece of salmon or chicken.
  7. At a Breakfast Joint: Go nuts here! Eggs, bacon, ham, side of avocado. If you're having coffee try to use whole or almond milk, if they have coconut milk you know you've found your brekkie heaven! Watch out for the potatoes, they're usually cooked in vegetable oil!
  8. At a Sushi Restaurant: Go for the sashimi or ask for your rolls without rice! I also like to order hand rolls with spicy tuna and veggies without rice. I usually sneak in a bottle of coconut aminos in my purse too. :) 
  9. At a French Restaurant: Ah I love the French, I'm French! Coq Au Vin, Boeuf Bourguignon, Lamb chops. Watch out for the flour though, remember to ask and be patient if your server has to go ask the kitchen. You're not their only table and this can slow things down a bit. If their dishes have flour, go back to the meat and 2 sides of veggies platform like the steak house. You can also ask if they have any sauces they could serve with your meat that don't have flour in them (hollandaise).
  10. At a BBQ Joint: All you need to watch out for here are the BBQ sauces (usually tons of sugar) and the comfort food side dishes. Last time I went, I ordered the pork sausage (no sauce or rub) and a garden salad.
  11. You're rallied by a pack of wild wolves/friends to Cold Stone Creamery for dessert - *dun dun dun!* First, let them know that they're assholes, then opt for a fruit smoothie or if you must, a sorbet. Lemon or lime flavors usually have the least amount of sugar but be prepared for mad poops tomorrow :).

Live to Thrive,

Lauren

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