Dining Out
Savvy tips that let you green light some faves!
In this article:
Be menu wise
Don’t put your social life on hold! Our tips will help you spot the smart choices on the menu.
Peruse the menu beforehand. It’ll help you determine what you want (and how many SmartPoints you’re willing to spend) before you get there.
Order kid's meals; not the meal deals. Avoid getting the larger portion just because it's cheaper. Ask yourself just how much those extra calories are going to cost you in terms of your health.
Understand the lingo: smothered, rich, au gratin, glazed, and creamy usually indicate high SmartPoints values. Flame-grilled, poached, smoked, baked, and grilled tend to be lower.
Divide your meal in half and ask your server to wrap up the other half to take home. It’ll help you avoid the temptation of eating too much just because it's there.
Ask for what you want. Don't be shy. It's okay to ask for dressing on the side or baked chicken instead of fried. You're paying good money for that meal, so you're entitled to make special requests or slight modifications.
Don't drink your SmartPoints. A drink with dinner is fine, but too many margaritas may wreak havoc on your resolve. (Not to mention your SmartPoints Budget.)
Alternate alcoholic beverages with non-caloric sodas or sparkling water. And don’t drink alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach!
Use your Weeklies. That’s what they’re there for!
Resign from the clean plate club — there’s no prize for finishing your food. Some restaurant portions can be two, three, even four times the "normal" size. Keep your portions in check by:
Ordering a salad as a starter and then splitting a main entrée with a friend.
Creating your own scaled-down meal from a couple of appetizers and/or side dishes.