Today I’m answering another Random Reader Question about eating out at restaurants when trying to follow a more nutritious, traditional diet. I’ll share my own thoughts, but we’ll have more fun if you all jump into the comments with your opinions on this topic, too!
From Leslie: “OK Kelly, here are my questions… We get invited to go out to dinner often. How can we continue to eat the traditional way and still go out? Are there “good” restaurants? Are there things we should avoid on the menus? Should I just pack raw milk and butter in my bag? Thanks.”
The “80/20 Rule”
As much as I keep hoping that someday it will be more like 90/10, we mostly go by the 80/20 rule around here. The 80% is most of the time when we’re at home, although we’re not always good here; and the 20% is usually whenever we go to restaurants or friends’ and family’s homes to eat, but sometimes there are good choices to be found when out visiting, too.
When visiting friends and family
What’s nice is that over the years, more and more of my friends and family have gotten on board with eating more traditional, nutritious foods, so it’s gotten easier when we go to certain places. For those that aren’t on board, there are usually some good options available, and if the not-so-good options look good to me or the kids, I count it as part of that 20% and try to chill out. (It’s not always easy for me! Have you read the post about how to handle it when visiting those who don’t eat like you do? Or this one for when you get home: Counteracting the effects of junk food.)
When eating out
Many restaurants are starting to offer more quality food – here's a post with a list of good restaurants that might be near where you live, and be sure to comment there if you know of more! Sadly, it’s usually only the higher end restaurants that serve quality food, but there are some faster-food places on this list, too.
We don’t eat out often, but when we do, I avoid fried food like the plague because the unhealthy vegetable oils that most restaurants use make me sick, literally. If I give in to what might look good to me, I pay for it. If the kids are with us, I always order them something to replace the poison sticks…I mean French fries, that usually come with their dinner. And I always ask for real butter if I’m eating the bread.
We don’t eat fast food these days, except for an occasional pizza ordered in (still not great though), or Subway, and we only eat certain things there. (I check the online menus to see which breads have no trans fat or high fructose corn syrup, and we always ask for the shredded cheddar cheese, never the American slices of fake cheese.)
You may want to get this restuarant guide to eating out!
Bottom line:
We try not to get too wigged out about the occasional meal out. While avoiding the really bad stuff and compromising on the not-so-bad stuff now and then, hopefully we are staying pretty close to our 80/20 percentages. 🙂
- FIND HELPFUL POSTS ON FEEDING KIDS MORE NUTRITIOUS MEALS. (Healthy breakfasts, what to do with kids complaining about food, what Sally Fallon says about healthy kids, snack ideas, school lunch alternatives, etc.)
- Healthy alternatives to fast food.
Louise - CuremyFatigue says
I eat out very rarely as well. If I have a hankering for a pizza, not often, I get the ones from Trader Joes’s that are imported straight from Italy. No soy, or other weird unhealthy ingredients. If I only have them occasionally, I usually don’t pay for it.
I also opt for a steak or grilled chicken or fish along with peppers or green beans. Maybe a salad but always feel dubious about the dressing. Nothing compares with homemade whipped up in a minute.
We did find a nice little french restaurant here in San Diego that makes their soup daily. But that’s a rare treat too!
Louise – CuremyFatigue
Organic and Thrifty says
Great Tips, Kel!
Like the others, we rarely eat out. When we do, we go to ethnic restaurants, which by nature typically steer clear of the Standard American Diet. We love Chipotle, since all the meat is pasture-raised. We avoid the chips, beans, and rice due to high carbs.
In general, I think any restaurant that serves fresh salad with a meat topping of some sort can be a decent option. I have been known to “bootleg” some kombucha and salad dressing to accompany my meal in a restaurant.
The great thing is that many restaurants nowadays are accustomed to modifying for allergy issues. I always ask for a substitution of steamed veggies for the bread, rice, or potato.
In general, I think sticking with meat and veggies is the best bet for staying traditional, since you know that the grains and legumes have probably not been properly prepared (except for perhaps the beans at Mexican restaurants, which are often slow-cooked).
As for desserts, I usually skip it, but if not, you could ask for whatever seasonal fruit they have served with some whipped cream.
Like you, Kel, I try not to compromise too much when eating out because I ALWAYS pay for it afterwards!
Organic and Thrifty
Vin - NaturalBias says
When I go out to eat, I usually have steak with mashed potatoes or french fries. Although most restaurants don’t serve pasture raised meat, it’s still at least a traditional food. Since I don’t eat very many carbs, the mashed potatoes or french fries are a welcome addition to offset any time I unintentionally spend in ketosis. Despite the vegetable oils, french fries are one of the few treats I can have without suffering notable consequences, so I enjoy them as part of my 20% ( which is really more like 5% out of necessity).
I used to order vegetables with the steak, but non organic restaurant vegetables tend to taste so bland that I usually don’t even bother and stick with something that I’ll enjoy.
Vin – NaturalBias
Amy Green - Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free says
I probably eat out 10 or 15 times a year. The biggest reason is that my husband and I don’t like to eat out. I cook a lot and we enjoy being home. I can’t eat gluten or sugar and that plays into it too. Fast food – forget it. Only in a pinch. My body is so used to fresh fruits, veggies, good meats, and generally healthy food that if I get anything greasy or too heavy I get sick. My husband also travels so when he’s in town he wants to eat at home. I love a good meal that someone else has prepared for me AND I love not having to do the dishes. We did eat at Central Market the other day and it was fabulous. 🙂
Amy Green – Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free
Catherine says
Hi Kelly,
We live out in the country so we have to drive at least 45min to get to a restaurant. So as it turns out we eat out on average 4x a year.
I find it scary that MSG can be hidden in so many things so and is in many sauces like salad dressings, gravies and such.
I was talking to the my farmer friend where I get my meat, she even said that most hamburgers and sausages have fillers in them. So you have to check that. So McD’s is actually pretty good for offering 100% beef patties.
The meals I go for when looking at a menu is oven cooked fish with just lemon/fresh herbs, veggies with real butter (gotta ask for it) and salad with oil and vinegar dressing.
Catherine