Restaurant Dining on Prep? It's Possible!

To many, prepping for a show seems like a strict mission of vegetables and egg whites on repeat. What about those nights when you want to head out with friends to a restaurant but don’t want to lose progress towards your stage goal? It’s possible! The Shoe Fairy herself opted to eat out while prepping for her NPC Show with not a set-back in sight. Her personal pro-tip: “The Cheesecake Factory’s Skinnylicious Menu!” Many restaurants have nutrition facts available online, so you can scour the macros instead of just the menu. Try searching My Fitness Pal’s verified restaurant menu entries as well for an even easier way to log.

For those restaurants where this isn’t an option, go for the safe bet and stick with a grilled protein (salmon, chicken or steak are always easily accessible) and a steamed veggie. Be sure to mention no oil, butter or salt when ordering so there are no hidden surprises lurking in the method of cooking. Feel free to estimate, or invest in a small portable food scale to get a complete accurate measurement for your log.

Another helpful hint – if your planning this night out in advance, plan your meals for the day as well. Switch up your typical meals in the morning and afternoon to help you stay on track even with a night out in the schedule! This is good to do before going out to social events in general, even if a restaurant isn’t in the plan. Additionally, asking for dressing on the side, avoiding the free bread, opting for lettuce wraps instead of burger buns and even getting rice-free sushi are all excellent ways to compromise when eating out.

If you want to play it safe, there’s always the option to pack your own meal. It may seem a little silly, but if that’s what it takes to make you feel comfortable with staying on track with your prep and will help you stay consistent, then that’s A-OK!

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