Get Leaner While Eating Out Part 1: Fast(ish) Food
If you travel or work long hours, one of the biggest challenges you may encounter is being able to go out to restaurants with co-workers or clients and still find meals that meet your nutritional needs for your goal. To that end, I have put together some of my favorite options for “quick fix” restaurants – none of these places have a drive-through window, but you can still get in and out relatively quickly if you’re strapped for time on a lunch break, and most if not all of them will also deliver.
Chipotle
This has to be my absolute favorite place to go grab something when time is limited or I find myself without an adequate amount of food at work for the day. It’s very, very easy to get what you need and none of what you don’t, since they put everything together step-by-step based on what you tell them.
Recommended: Fajita Salad
Get a salad bowl with no dressing (their vinaigrette has more sugar than I would like; pretty typical for most commercial dressings) and ask them to add fajita vegetables instead of rice and beans. Add whatever meat you prefer; if you’re male, you should be getting a double-serving of meat (my preference is half carnitas, half barbacoa). Top with pico de gallo and stay away from the corn salsa, sour cream, and cheese. Some guacamole on top is also acceptable. Skip the chips (sorry) and the Corona (obviously).
Jimmy John’s
Fast, cheap, and they deliver – what more could you want? They also use all nitrate-free meat and offer every sandwich in “Unwich” form – no bread, instead using romaine lettuce as a wrap for everything. Skip the potato chips and cookie and go for the unsweetened iced tea for a drink (if available).
Recommended: #14 Bootlegger Club
Turn it into an “Unwich” to save a ton of unnecessary carbs. Ditch the mayo and add cucumbers, avocado, oil & vinegar, oregano (if you like oregano), and onions. Peppers are optional but fine to add. $1.99 gets you double the meat. Add a pickle on the side and you’re good to go.
Panda Express
How in the world can you eat healthy at a Chinese restaurant? Admittedly, there are fewer options here, but it can still be done. Look for the meat options that aren’t breaded or slathered in lots of sauce.
Recommended: Mandarin Chicken & Broccoli Beef
Use the mixed veggies for a base – white rice, chow mein, fried rice, it’s all bad. Go for the 2-entree plate and get mandarin chicken without the sauce – it’s by far the highest protein chicken option on the menu (string bean chicken is okay but half the protein and some carbs). Add broccoli beef for some extra protein and more veggies. Skip the fortune cookies and get either no-cal iced tea, or just water. Drink up because you’ll need the extra fluids from all the added sodium in Chinese dishes.
Boston Market
The biggest issue for a lot of people here is skipping out on the “comfort foods” that Boston Market is popular for – when you’re starving, it can be difficult to say no to cornbread and chicken pot pie. Not impossible, though, so just go in knowing what you want before you get there.
Recommended: Quarter White Chicken
While any of the chicken options are frankly fine, the entire half chicken will be too much for most people, so go for either the quarter white chicken or the three piece dark – there’s not so much extra fat in the dark meat (about 8 grams) as to be relevant but if you don’t have a personal preference, go for the white. Get steamed vegetables or green beans on the side and try to bypass all of the other sides.
Next time, we’ll look at sit-down restaurants to show you how to entertain clients or business associates and not come out of it with an insulin hangover and an expanding waistline. In the meantime feel free to comment below if there’s anything else you’d like to see!
