Take Out Tuesdays: 4 Essential, Health Tips for Ordering Anywhere

Photos courtesy of : Google

I worked as a waitress for five years and I definitely made the most tips during the holiday season. People don't have the time to cook and are far too exhausted to worry about doing the dishes. So they find themselves going out to eat and ordering take out more and more in the winter time.

While this is great for a waitress's pocket, it is often not so great for waistlines. That is why I have decided to make Tuesday's in December "Take Out Tuesdays." So far I have covered posts on Chinese and Pizza. But today I am doing things a little different and covering the basics for ordering any type of take out food.

From Fast Food to Pub, there are 4 essential, healthy tips that can be used everywhere, whether dining in or ordering out.

When dining out, it is quite possible to consume well over your daily, recommended caloric intake within minutes of being seated, But, I'm here to tell you that you don't have to get the salad with bland dressing and nothing on it in order to "survive" a meal out. 

Tip#1. Don't eat the whole chip basket before your meal comes. 

Photo Courtesy of: Google

When any sort of "munchies" are placed in front of you, it is a typical behavior to start grabbing handful after handful. . Whether it is a free basket of chips/fries/Chinese noodles/rolls that is set on your table, we often begin  robotic-ally, shoveling the food into our mouths. But if you are aware of this habit, you can start to eat  more mindfully. 

Set rules. For example, know that after you eat 12 chips or 1/2 roll, that you are going to stop. And  if you don't think you can control yourself quite yet, don't allow any of the "freebies" around you.

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Tip #2. The most important tip to remember when  dining in or ordering any kind of take-out is to be aware of your surroundings. 

For Mexican food, this means knowing that those chips will be set down in front of you prior to walking into the restaurant. By placing awareness on the situation at hand, you can be better prepared and  have a plan in mind prior to ordering. 

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You know that the last time you had Mexican, those chips were so salty that they made you crave a margarita, and then another, leaving you with a feeling of being so full that you were unable to touch the meal you paid for. 

Knowing what happened last time, you can ask the waitress to remove the basket from the table prior to getting "wild"; and when ordering take-out, make a point to not have  the free chips included with your meal.There are far better things ahead at meal time anyway...

Tip #3: Call out the "voice villain" in your head.

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It is so very important not to beat yourself up  for the last time you went wild on the chips, or whatever "poor" food choice you made in the past. Being aware of this "voice villain" will help you to understand that this is merely just a feeling and not a representation of what you look like.

I once read a powerful magazine article about a girl who took a picture in the same shorts and sports bra every morning for 30 days. Each morning she recorded how she felt, such as "felt really good about myself today" or "feeling really heavy and uncomfortable today." In the magazine article, they showed all 30 pictures she took and you know what, she looked EXACTLY the same on each and everyday. She was finally able to see physical proof that her "feelings" were simply thoughts she had about her body and not what everyone actually saw. 

Like the girl in thr magazine, you too are not physically changing drastically each day, despite any negative thoughts that you tell so. If you are living a healthy lifestyle and occasionally indulge, then there’s no need to think twice about that “voice villain.”

 I tell you the girl’s 30-day, picture story so that you understand the importance of  living healthy lifestyle, not a diet, not a week-plan, not a fad. but a positive life for yourself. 

Tip #4: Know the Ordering Basics: Always order dressing on the side, ask for the  "Lighter" version, & at the start of your meal, place half of the entree in a to-go box. 

Photo Courtesy of: Google

• Always order sauces/dressings "On the Side": When eating salad, dip your fork in the dressing before each bite rather than dousing it on top. You will be amazed by how much flavor you get out of every bite. Do the same with all sauces. 
• Use the word "light" when ordering: Always go "light" on the cheese and choose the healthier cooking option such as baking/broiled/grilled.  


• Take it to Go:  At the start if your meal, ask for a to-go box, and put one half aside for tomorrow. Most leftovers make great omelets the next day.  For example, take leftover chicken fajitas, throw the fajita mixture in an skillet and load it up with  extra veggies and salsa as a great omelet filling. You can do the same with pizza toppings, as well.  Make it a habit, that half your meal goes home with you so have better control of your eating habits at dinner.  

Thank you all for taking the time out of your day for committing to a healthier lifestyle for yourself. I hope that you enjoyed the break from the specifically themed, take-out Tuesdays to bring it back to the basics. 

I encourage you to come back to this articlr as a reminder for setting good eating habits wherever you go. Feel free to favorite this post, pin the tips on Pinterest as a visual reminder, or jot them down on the memo pad in your phone. Taking out those few extra moments in your day to learn the basics will make a heck of a difference. In fact, for me it is worth a lifetime of silencing that "food villain" voice. 

Create a great Tuesday everyone! Below is your daily dose of inspiration dedicated to anyone who has felt for even just a moment not worthy enough..,

Photo Courtesy of Ashley Sofia

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Takeout Tuesdays: Chinese edition

Today is the first Tuesday of December, which means that the Takeout Tuesday series has begun! With the stress of the holidays, we tend to go overboard. Overboard with our emotions, spending, stress, drinking, and eating. With long days spent at work or even just the many stressful hours stuck in the mall parking lot, we find ourselves running out of time and energy to cook.

1. Start with a broth-based soup or a light appetizer: Soups like hot & sour or egg-drop soup can help to fill you up before your meal. They are some of the lowest calorie items on the menu and help you to avoid loading up on the heavier entrees. If you are looking for a lighter appetizer, try steamed dumplings or edamame (hold the salt and put it on yourself).

1. Avoid the fried food options: Make sure to avoid anything with the word "fried" in the description like egg rolls or Peking ravioli. Also, avoid any foods described as  "breaded," such as Sesame chicken or Chicken wings. Instead, order foods that have been cooked in healthier ways. Look for key words such as "steamed." (If the name of the dish is in Chinese, look for healthy dishes that start with words like "jum" (poached), "kow" (roasted),  or "chu" (broiled).

1. Beware of the sauces: Sauces such as sweet & sour or Genral Tso's chicken pack lots of SUGAR and calories! Order the sauce on the side and dip your fork in the sauce between bites.Oyster, hoisin, black bean and mustard sauce are all good sauces to order.  Also, avoid dousing on the soy sauce, which has lots of sodium and will leave you feeling bloated. Buy a low sodium soy sauce from your local grocery store to keep on hand and when at restaurants, ask the server for the low sodium version if it's not already on the table. 

1. Portion, Portion, Portion: Even with a healthy meal in front of you, it is still possible to exceed your daily caloric intake due to the amount of servings in one dish. When you get home, make sure to spoon out your meal onto a small plate, rather than just directly eat it from the take out box. When out to eat,  take at least half of your meal to go. If your willpower is not so great, ask for a "to go" box at the start of the meal.  

1. Treat your sides RIGHT: Order a side order of veggies and load up your plate. Avoid noodle dishes and rice dishes as sides when possible. (A cup of fried rice has approximately 363 calories and 14 grams of fat*). If you really want a side of rice, load it with veggies or look for entrees with veggies in the name, such as steamed chicken & broccoli. And you know that little tea cup found on the table at the restaurant? That's equivalent to the correct portion size of rice.

 It is just so tempting to have the food ready at our beckon call, with no mess to clean up afterwards. And so takeout happens. But I'm here to tell you to forget any of the guilt you feel when ordering out. There's no reason to fear that suddenly  you will go on some major downward binge spiral.

I don't blame you for wanting a night off from cooking, I order takeout often. And guess what, I don't instantly balloon up when I do. There are plenty of healthy takeout options available. If you read the 5 tips for the next 3 Tuesdays,  you'll do just fine and be ready to order anywhere like a pro. So use that extra hour or so you would of cooking spent elsewhere and enjoy the takeout dinners every once in awhile.

Today's first post covers Chinese. Chinese is one of the most comforting, crave-worthy meals out there and I definitely have a few Chinese takeout places permanently installed in my phone. Below are the essential tips to remember when ordering Chinese food, along with my regular Takeout order from Alice's Mandarain Taste. 

...and go ahead and eat that fortune cookie if you really want it. Its only 35 calories and 3g of sugar. I  was always told that you have to eat your fortune cookie in order for it to come true, and so I always take a bite out of mine. 

Please take the Take Out Survey to let me know what kind of Take Out you'd like me to cover next. Would you like to learn tips for ordering pizza, breakfast Drive thru in the morning.. its up to you guys!

 Below is your daily dose of inspiration. See you all tomorrow! 

*Calories from livestrong.com