Healthy Tips for my Business Trip

Last night, instead of having chicken with stir fry vegetables, I made steak. I just couldn't pass up the BOGO steak deal at the grocery store this week!

The cuts were fairly large, so I only had half a portion of steak for dinner. The other half I'll eat for lunch today with the leftover veggies. I tried to get away from my usual stir fry vegetables (green pepper, mushrooms and onions) and branched out to zucchini, red pepper and onions. I'm living on the wild side, I know!

I'm only in the office from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. today, then my husband is driving me to Harrisburg for my business trip. Usually, my sister would come with my on business trips. It's nice to have somebody to tag along because the drive is kind of long at 6 hours. It will also be nice because my meetings are over at 4 p.m. tomorrow, so my husband and I will have the rest of the night in Harrisburg.

Since we will be eating out for our meals while out of town, I have dug up some eating out tips from USDA's www.ChooseMyPlate.org.

 

As a beverage choice, ask for water or order fat-free or low-fat milk, unsweetened tea, or other drinks without added sugars.

Ask for whole-wheat bread for sandwiches.

In a restaurant, start your meal with a salad packed with veggies, to help control hunger and feel satisfied sooner.

Ask for salad dressing to be served on the side. Then use only as much as you want.

Choose main dishes that include vegetables, such as stir fries, kebobs, or pasta with a tomato sauce.

Order steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.

Choose a small" or "medium" portion. This includes main dishes, side dishes, and beverages.

Order an item from the menu instead heading for the "all-you-can-eat" buffet.

If main portions at a restaurant are larger than you want, try one of these strategies to keep from overeating:

• Order an appetizer-sized portion or a side dish instead of an entrée.
• Share a main dish with a friend.
• If you can chill the extra food right away, take leftovers home in a "doggy bag."
• When your food is delivered, set aside or pack half of it to go immediately.
• Resign from the "clean your plate club" - when you've eaten enough, leave the rest.

To keep your meal moderate in calories, fat, and sugars:

• Ask for salad dressing to be served "on the side" so you can add only as much as you want.
• Order foods that do not have creamy sauces or gravies
• Add little or no butter to your food.
• Choose fruits for dessert most often.

On long commutes or shopping trips, pack some fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables, low-fat string cheese sticks, or a handful of unsalted nuts to help you avoid stopping for sweet or fatty snacks.

I'm going to use some of those methods to get me through this business trip!

Do you have any other tips for eating out and still staying "on track"?