Valentine’s Day is just a couple of days away! It is a day
filled with love and SWEETS! If you are
like me, I know that “milk chocolate assortment candy box” and savory meals
will be calling your name! However, a
lot of us have been “eating clean”/cutting back and do not won’t to FALL OFF
THE WAGON! Well don’t fear Brittany is here
to give you TIPS ON HOW TO STAY ON TRACK: Valentine’s Day Edition!
1. Find out how the menu items are prepared.
If the meal is filled with butter, cream,
braised, pan fried, then more than likely it is filled alot of salt, saturated
fat, or oxidized fat. Consuming too much
sodium is one of the risk factors for heart disease and hypertension (high
blood pressure). So aim for baked,
broiled, grilled, roasted, or steamed.
2. Plan ahead.
If you already know what restaurant you and
your significant other will be going to, go online and review the menu to have
an idea of what you may want to eat beforehand.
If you have any questions about any dishes, call the restaurant and ask
them about it. (I have done this a
couple of times when my husband and I have made plans to go out to eat).
Also
the FDA requires food chains to provide customers with calorie amounts on the
menus, so take advantage of that as well.
Some restaurants that I have eaten at that offers this includes Olive
Garden, Ruby Tuesday, P.F’s Chang, Cheddar’s plus many more! (looking for other restaurants click here )
3. Think about the condiments you plan on
using.
In the first tip we touched a little on
high blood pressure and heart disease; well according to the Center for Disease
Control (CDC) 90% of Americans consume too much sodium in their diet. Keep an eye out on that by cutting back on
salt, relish, pickles, ketchup, sauerkraut, and sauces such as soy sauce, honey
mustard, teriyaki, and steak sauce.
Instead try to use lemon juice, spices, and herbs.
4. Make reservations somewhere local.
Most local and independent restaurants receive
fresh local produce and seafood to stand out from all other big chains! This
also gives the chefs the opportunity to create unique dishes catered to the
population and healthy alternatives. Plus it is always great to support local
businesses.
5. Avoid Buffets.
The more food you are offered or are
available to you the more you will eat! Order appetizers instead of entrees,
appetizers offer smaller portions. Chicken, seafood, veggies are always good
choices. Salads are great to start with
dressing on the side.
6. Avoid those greasy sides.
I
know we all love our onion rings, french fries, pasta and mashed
potatoes….but those food’s nutritional values are low. Swap those sides out for steamed veggies.
7. No go on the beer.
Beer typically have about 195 calories
(could’ve had some food for that) and when beer is consumed like its “Rush
Week” your body will end up burning the alcohol instead of fat. If you can drink in moderation, red wine,
gin, vodka straight up or on the rocks will be better alternatives (or just
have water like me). Too much booze has been known to lower testosterone,
hinder muscle growth, and cause you to come clean about that time you cried
during The Best Man Holiday.
8. Stay home
Cooking at home allow you to have control
of what is being served. Also if meeting
up with other people at their house for a Valentine’s Day dinner offer to bring
a dish! (that way you know what is in the food and don’t have to wonder) I can tell you from experience that cooking
for your spouse or significant other also expresses that you put in time and
effort!
Come go with me as I go down memory lane…
I
can remember a couple of years ago for my husband’s birthday I surprised him
with a birthday dinner with just him and I.
He knew nothing about it! I had
it all planned out for a couple of weeks.
So here’s what I did. I cooked us
a home cooked meal, I also
ordered him a small Ice Cream cake from a local Ice cream chain (he loved it),
got a birthday card, some candles, and a couple of balloons from the nearby
grocery store. I also fixed my hair up
and put on a nice fancy dress. Well when
he came in from work I had the lights dimmed with the candles lit and the food already
at the table! He didn't know what had
hit him! He was very surprised!
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