Hi Lovers!

Eating out Paleo can be tough and if you're a social butterfly like me, going out to a restaurant with friends is not something I'm generally willing to give up. As long as you read this post you'll have some tricks up your sleeve that will leave you full and happy and either without a cheat or just a little baby one!

General Tips:

  • 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.
  • 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 or clarified butter!
  • For drinks, always start with mineral water with a lime. If you want a cocktail, keep it to red wine or tequila with soda water and 5 limes.
  • Remember to be patient if your server has to go ask the kitchen about what's in your selection. You're not their only table and this can slow things down a bit.

Different Cuisines:

  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, 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 and add guac, salsa and jalapenos. You can also ask to turn any burrito into a bowl. Just ask to hold the rice and beans and add lettuce, salsa, guac and lime juice. For a chips and salsa/guac substitute (my weakness I admit), ask if they have sliced cucumbers or bell peppers for dipping.
  3. At a Burger Joint: Ask for a bun-less burger. Lots of burger places have lettuce wraps now a days. Always add bacon and avocado, onions and mushrooms are great as well. Steer clear of the french fries, they're cooked in bad oils unless you find a place that uses duck fat, then just eat some potato
  4. At a Chinese/Mandarin Restaurant: Order without noodle or rice dishes and nothing fried (this means no General Tso's Chicken!). Just meat and veggie melange is delicious! I love chicken and veggie stir fry with Sriracha or broccoli beef. Be sure to ask for gluten free soy sauce or bring your own coconut aminos. Always ask if they use MSG in their dishes. If they do, run for the hills because it's in everything!
  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. Try the eggs benedict without the english muffin and add some spinach. If you're having coffee ask for almond milk, if they have coconut milk, do a happy dance! Watch out for the potatoes, they're usually cooked in vegetable oil! A side of fruit or tomatoes is a better bet.
  8. At a Sushi Restaurant: Go for sashimi or ask for your rolls without rice! Be careful with the rolls though because they usually have some sort of mayo in them. I mainly order hand rolls with spicy tuna and veggies without rice. Always sneak in a bottle of coconut aminos.
  9. At a French Restaurant: Watch out for the flour at French restaurants! Most dishes like boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin are made with a roux or the meat is dusted in flour before browning. If their dishes have flour, go back to the meat/fish and 2 sides of veggies platform like the steak house. You can also ask if they have any sauces they could serve with the 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. Even the cole slaw had sugar!
  11. Ice Cream Parlor: *dun dun dun!* Opt for a fruit smoothie or if you must, a sorbet. Lemon or lime flavors usually have the least amount of sugar. This will inevitably be a cheat so cheat if you want or just say you're too full for ice cream.

Live to Thrive,

Lauren

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