Monday, 21 September 2009

• Eating Out is Code for Over-Eating

   

  Sure, we're all guilty of having cravings for things that aren't good for you. For some people, the craving is for chocolate and other sweets. Others crave going out to eat, where offers like never-ending pasta bowls and $5 appetizers really hit the spot.

  Dining out can be extremely tricky though, especially if you're trying to lose weight.

  Aside from the usually oversized meals, here are some ways that restaurants force you into "accidentally" over-eating.

  1. There is almost always too much fat, salt or sugar. You may think that the salad you opted for is the healthy choice, but the dressing that they used and the breaded chicken you chose really add up. And if you think that picking the spinach-artichoke dip was the healthy alternative for an appetizer, you are mistaken: this creamy, cheesy dip is often packed with fatty cheese and is always overwhelmed with salt. It may be delicious, but try using vegetable sticks instead of the chips they offer.

  2. Restaurants take the effort out of eating. By providing consumers with easy to eat foods, they take all the work out of earning your meal and allow people to eat faster (which is unhealthy). Foods like boneless buffalo wings and boneless ribs or steaks, the restaurant is promoting a fast-pace dinner, making it difficult for your stomach to tell your brain that you're actually full. In general, it takes about seven minutes for your brain to register a full belly; however, if you're gobbling your food all up because of it's bonelessness, you breeze through the necessary seven minutes and end up eating more than you can handle.

  3. Every place has a "fun food." Restaurants are always trying to come up with clever ways to have their patrons eat more, and so they come up with a cleverly named or made food. In one case, a "volcano cake" is essentially a chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. However, by adding a melted chocolate center that oozes after the cake has been split, people think of this food as tempting because of its originality and creativeness. For others, restaurants may come up with interesting dips or dessert drinks that tempt the tastebuds. Ever hear of the dessert sampler? This is a simple, easy way for the restaurant industry to trick people into thinking that these multiple, yet "smaller" portions are really just okay snacks, while instead they actually add up to a bigger dessert than normal.

  4. Most foods are layered. It's rare that you'll find simple foods beyond a hamburger or a chicken sandwich. Most restaurants are fans of layering their foods and insist on throwing bacon and cheese on as many foods as possible. If it's not a combination of bacon-cheesy goodness, then it's a rolled, stuffed, fried food that offers an overwhelming amount of different ingredients. Not only do these layers flavor the simple meat product, but they're often cheaper than the actual meat, which allows them to get away with using smaller pieces of nutritional beefs, fishes or hams.

  5. The myths of microwaved foods are probably true. These foods, instead of being cooked on the grill or with a pan, are often assembled and then "re-heated." The re-heating can cause the food to shrink, forcing your eyes to see smaller food portions even though the bad amount of fats and salts still remain. Because of the "shrunken" portions, you are more likely to order a dessert or a pre-course.

  6. Grilled foods are not always healthiest. Ever wonder how your grilled chicken or beef is so tender and juicy? It's not because of the quality of the meat, my friends. Restaurants inject juices and marinades into these meats through needles or through intense marination. While you may think that opting for a grilled piece of meat is better than its breaded counterpart, the hidden marinade tricks you into a heavier calorie intake than you would expect.

  7. A variety of scrumptious side dishes are offered. When going out to eat, most people are looking for something fulfilling and satisfying, which often comes with a fatty price tag. What makes the situation worse is the abundance of delicious sides offered. From loaded baked or mashed potatoes, to cheesy vegetables and buttery pastas or rices, the possibilites seem endless. Interestingly enough though, when the plate is finally served, the side dish seems to be the overwhelming star. This happens because these starchy sides are often cheaper to produce than the "main" food, allowing the restaurant to stock your plate with sides without getting in trouble for skimping on the meat.

  So next time, healthy eaters... beware! You may think you're taking the righteous road by ordering that grilled chicken breast with side of veggies, but when it comes to you with a light coating of baked bread crumbs and cheese, know that you're simple meal is headed down an over-eating path.

  Do you find yourself indulging when you go out to eat, or do you try to lean towards healthier foods? What are other things to look out for when going out to eat?

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