Healthful Dining Out
With your hectic schedule as your wedding nears, you're likely to be dining out more frequently than usual. Before you buy fast food or order from a restaurant menu, it's a good idea to have a few rules of thumb handy. Today, many healthy choices are available, even at fast food restaurants, which now offer fresh fruit instead of fries, yogurt instead of ice cream or pies, and side salads. When you eat out, stick to the main principles of eating minimally processed, whole, fresh foods and more fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains, and you'll be on the right track.
Portion Control
The main challenge with dining out is that portion sizes are so large. Even if it feels like a bargain, resist the urge to take advantage of larger-sized offerings. When you eat in a restaurant, instead of ordering an appetizer and a main course, order just the main course. Ask the kitchen to divide the portion in half and wrap it for you to take home
Avoid waiting to eat until you're ravenous. Try to eat slowly to allow your appestat (the part of your brain that controls eating and appetite) to register that you're full. Studies indicate that it takes about twenty minutes for your body to register what you've consumed. Drink plenty of water to help prevent overeating. If you can't resist multiple servings from the bread basket, ask that no bread be served. Or, if it's already on the table, ask for it to be removed.
Hidden Calories
If you drink, enjoy alcohol in moderation. Studies show that one or two alcoholic beverages per day can have a beneficial effect on health. However, watch out for sugary cocktails that are loaded with calories. Instead, choose wine or beer that is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial phyto-chemicals. Be careful, however, of the loss of inhibition that may come from drinking. Many people tend to overeat after a few drinks. If you fall into that category, you may want to limit your intake until your wedding celebration.
Another reason to improve your eating habits is not just fitting into and looking gorgeous in your gown. If you and your husband want children, a healthy diet will be essential when you're pregnant. The sooner you incorporate a healthy and nutritious diet into your daily life, the easier it will be for you to maintain it throughout your marriage.
If once in awhile you splurge, don't beat yourself up. You may need to splurge from time to time and that's okay. It's part of enjoying life. Take it in stride and balance out the extra consumption during the remainder of the week. Make up for it by eating more lightly for a few days and fitting in more physical activity to burn off the extra calories. Avoid all or nothing thinking, and never consider yourself a failure.
