I've remarked before about being relieved when i can get back to eating the way that makes me feel good.... I'm going to have to figure out how to eat the way i want to, all the time!
Don't get me wrong, it's fun to "misbehave" when i WANT to, but extremely vexing to "have to" eat wrongly when i don't. If i don't feel like eating at all -- even something "innocent" -- it's annoying to be put into a position where i feel i should. OTOH, i don't want to impose my unconventional patterns on my husband -- at least, not more than he's stuck with already! ...So how am i going to manage, so that two independent-minded people can eat what/when they like? It's not going to be TOO much longer before he decides to retire and be around a whole lot more.
Well, it's not only going to require keeping the right foods and drinks (yet to be determined) handy, but some research into MORE nearby restaurants with appropriate menu possibilities. Sure one can get a low-carb meal almost anywhere, but one does get tired of the same ol' side-dishes to go with one's simple meat-entree, and i got burned-out on salads way back in the '70s! I don't believe i've ever read many truly creative ways of making ordinary restaurants answer to our LCHF requirements -- i mean, i've been ordering sandwiches without the bread for YEARS, and more suggestions of that nature are pretty useless.
So anybody out there have unusual and brilliant ways of coping with the restaurant question?
My sister and I go for breakfast every Sunday. For some reason I never get tired of bacon and eggs, steak and eggs, hamburger steak and eggs. I order my eggs poached every time. It's gotten so that I"m offered an extra egg for free because I don't order toast and/or hashbrowns.
ReplyDeleteFor dinners I have a favorite place that makes wonderful pork chops or steak accompanied by a greek salad. There are other places that offer up one or two vegetable side dishes. I have a wonderful recipes for beef stew that doesn't call for any potatoes or carrots, just mushrooms.
That's about all I can suggest.
thanks, Horfilmania, i appreciate the input! :-) ...someday you're going to have to explain your name to me!
DeleteHave you tried ethnic restaurants? In Chicago, I had bulgogi (Korean barbecue) with sides of seaweed, radishes and kimchi. Had grilled octopus in Greek Town (no sides, it was an appetizer), and lamb at a Middle Eastern place. Around here, there's a Thai place that serves coconut chicken soup and seaweed salad. Wine bars usually have good low-carb pick-your-own plates of pate, meats, cheeses, olives, etc.
ReplyDeleteOh, and if you're into organ meat, little Mexican restaurants on Federal Boulevard here in Denver serve menudo.
ReplyDeletei think you're right, Lori -- i need to look into more of the ethnic choices we have here (St. Louis is a very good restaurant town). one of the things i love about our local sushi place is the "alternative vegetable" options to go along with my sashimi. if i can get J hooked on a place where i can get filled up on appropriate "small plates" that would be great! i've never had the guts to try tripe, but then i'm a very new enthusiast of sweetbreads.... THANKS! the lady from Denver comes through again!
DeleteGreat question. I really have no great answer but am well aware of how dreary eating out can be particularly in chain places if you aren't eating carbs. Tasteless chicken and salads anyone? I'd rather not eat than eat a fast food salad.
ReplyDeleteMy answer tends to be that I avoid most chain places, even higher end ones, and I know the places in my area that have good tartare, crudos, ceviche, sashimi and carpaccios. Also I know where I can get good grilled shrimp, guacamole, and, occasionally, lobster tails. A local sushi place I go to will do a variety of sushi rolls with cucumber wrapper. One local place actually does excellent roasted chicken (really a rarity unless you live in a foodie area) and good chicken livers.
I eat out much less than I used to but spend much more when I do go out. Sometimes when I know I am going someplace where the only option is a hamburger (I always try to look at menus before going), I actually take a low carb pita with me - slightly inconvenient but far less inconvenient than standing in the queue for the treatment of diabetes complications.
yeah, chains are only good if you're in a strange place and the choices are between e.g. Maud's Deli and Applebees.... :-) i actually enjoy going out for a good burger (hold the bun) but most places, the available sides are fries, chips and potato salad. finding a place offering cottage cheese becomes a stellar occasion, comparatively speaking!
DeleteI don't know the answer to the eating out problem. Someone was just telling me the other day how they managed to stall and even gain on an all-meat diet of restaurant meat. I find personally that hospital food makes me gain, doesn't matter what I order: bland chicken/roast/salad. Everything is probably laced with PUFA and MSG and sugar so you end up hungry and eating more later. I don't know.
ReplyDeleteI find the only real solution is to fast through social occasions if you're serious about weight loss. Zero glycaemic index!
But I know how much that sucks and makes you look like a weirdo.
yes, it seems to me too that restaurant food has additives that "home food" does not. if you've ever read the labels on the pre-formed burgers at the grocery, you notice fillers that have no business being there! i try to get my restaurant burgers at places that brag about hand-made and specialty-meat patties, on the hopes that they're more pure.
Deletei don't mind looking like a weirdo -- i have half-a-century's experience of it, after all. :-) but J loves to go out for breakfasts and/or lunches, and i do get tired of the usual choices, even when i WANT to eat something. and he so often makes me choose where we go! i tell ya -- i soon run out of ideas! i'm going to follow Lori's suggestion and take it a step further -- see what ethnic restaurants in this town offer breakfasts!
it also occurs to me that restaurant meats are usually "select" grade rather than the "choice" or "prime" we get at the store and at the best restaurants....
DeleteJust noticed in your sidebar, Kendrick has a blog?!
ReplyDeleteyes, i just discovered him on somebody else's blog list, and thought he'd be worth reading awhile. are you familiar with him?
DeleteHis book is wonderful.
Deletei'm still reading old blog posts, which seem to share my point of view....
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