6 Easy Peasy Smart Eating Tips When You Eat Out

What's old but never gets old?

Attempts at losing weight.

It's a continuous struggle when you lived in Malaysia, the land of fatty but glorious food.

Well anyway, we Malaysians loved to eat out, aren't we? 

Eating out is becoming unavoidable especially if you are living away from your family (no mom to cook for you) or you use meal times to socialize. 

There's nothing wrong with eating out but like everything else, it has to be done in moderation and smartly. After all, outside foods are known to be unhealthy (high in calories, fats, cholesterol, sodium, etc)

Here are a few simple tips you can apply the next time you eat out.

1. Skip The Sweetened Beverages

I have always observed people like to order sweet beverages like sirap ais, milo ais, teh ais etc when they eat out. Those beverages contained sugar, sugar is calorie. 

And the milkier it is the higher the calorie content.

Therefore you are consuming extra calories with your meal. Drink plain water, chinese tea, or unsweetened green tea instead.

2. Be Smart With Your Food Choices 

Clear soupy noodles definitely contained fewer calories than Mee Kari or Mee Goreng. 

Choose baked or grilled chicken instead of fried chicken. If you must eat fried chicken, then remove the skin and any visible fats.

If you must must must eat mee goreng or maggi goreng or bihun goreng, order them with extra veggies. All the fibers keeping you full for longer.

Read my previous post on being calorie-smart HERE.

3. Savour Each Bite And Chew Slowly

Chewing slowly gives your stomach enough time to send signals to the brain to indicate if you are full. You are also less likely to over-eat when you chew slowly.

Chew 44 times if you must. 

Read: Does Chewing Slowly Helps You Lose Weight?

4. Drink A Full Glass Of Water Before Your Meals 

Sometimes the body interprets dehydration as hunger. You also tend to eat less when you drink a glass of water before a meal.

Read how this lady loses some weight by just drinking water before her meals.

5. Be Mindful Of Your Portion Size 

We often eat huge portions without realizing it. 

One serving of rice is the size of your fist and according to the Malaysian Food Pyramid, you need 4-8 servings of carbohydrates (rice, bread, noodles, cereals, cereal products, tubers) per day. 

Read: How To Estimate Your Portion Size 

6. Share is Definitely Caring

I always bring along my personal DBKU/Alam Flora/Tong Sampah when I eat out, somebody to share (finish my food).

Food shared is calorie shared. Enough said.

Eat smart, choose wisely, and be healthy!