19/12/2024
Have you got a Christmas meal out this year? Today is one of the most popular days for a Christmas meal.
However, eating out can be a minefield if you're trying to stick to a healthier plan or don't want to do anything to raise your blood sugar levels. However, it can be quite easy if you know what to pick.
1. Fill Yourself Up With The Good Stuff
Have a starter and a main course or just a main course, but not a dessert. Avoid the bread basket or prawn crackers or similar sides. In fact it is best to ask the waiter to take these things away or give them to someone else to remove the temptation. Instead, ask them to bring some olives.
Try and stick to just one glass of good quality wine and remember to drink plenty of water.
2. Watch Out For Hidden Sugar
When you are choosing items from the menu, watch out for the hidden sugar and high carbs in sauces, pickles and dips. For example, all Thai restaurants do very tasty fish cakes. These are better than things like spring rolls because they have more protein - but other types of fish cakes may have a high potato content so be careful. Also avoid sweet chilli sauces which accompany many Thai dishes.
3. Remember, You Can Order Off The Menu
For instance, if you like the sound of the fish or chicken, but not the cream sauce, ask for it without, or swap it for another method of cooking. Don’t be afraid of asking for exactly what you want.
4. Always Order Vegetable Dishes
Make sure you order plenty of vegetables and salad with your meal and, if you haven’t had enough, order more!
Starting a meal with a salad or vegetables will help reduce the spike in blood sugar levels.
5. Avoid Fried Food
Choose food that hasn't been deep fried, so go for non-fried egg noodles or a small portion of plain (ideally brown) or coconut rice. Wild rice is also a good option if available. You can also share portions between 2 or 3 people if you don't want to miss out completely.
The main thing though is to enjoy yourself! What will you be eating?
