Since moving to California, I’ve done my fair share of eating out. That’s not to say that I didn’t dine it up in New York City by eating out (or ordering in) at places like this, this, this, this, this, and that.
Eating out in California is a bit different. There are certainly plenty of healthy options, such as the fabulous vegan restaurant Andy Nguyens, which is dangerously close to my college campus. Never mind the hilariously cheesy new age menu:
Mmmm, Limitless Compassion...
For an appetizer, I decided upon the spring rolls, which were filled with vegetarian ham, tofu, rice noodles, and veggies. Not to mention an excellent peanut dipping sauce:
I ended up going with the “Universal Love Lemongrass,” which definitely gave my taste buds good karma:
Mixed Veggies, Soy Chicken, Tofu, Doused in Some Sort of Brown Sauce
Who knoew unlimited love came with a side of brown rice?
It was absolutely amazing. Since the portions at Andy Nguyen’s are enough for two people, I packed the remaining half of this entree in a doggie bag. It ended up serving as an excellent lunch the next day.
What if I’m on the corner of Greasy and Processed?
Despite having many delicious and healthy dining options here in California, I’ve had to contend with the limited options of mall food and chain restaurants when I’ve either been in a pinch or if the ultimate dining choice isn’t up to me. When navigating the inherently unhealthy menus of fast food and chain restaurants (whose portions could feed a starving pack of wolves), don’t give up hope. Think outside the “Jack in the Box,” and you’ll realize that even the most grease-laden food courts offer up some healthy choices.
Friday after work (and after receiving my paycheck), I decided it would be wise to start dressing the part of Assistant Property Manager by getting some official office attire. Off I went to the Roseville Galleria, a mall that warrants its own zip code. Malls are unheard of in Manhattan, so I was flabbergasted by the sheer enormity of this consumption metropolis. Or, as The Arcade Fire puts it so brilliantly in their latest album:
“Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains
And there’s no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights”
It had been at least two years since my last Mall visit, and once I was over the initial shock of it all, I got to cracking on purchasing two-for-one pin stripe pants. I think shimmying out of dozens of different blouses, pants, pencil skirts, and dresses for nearly two hours definitely qualifies as cardio. Ergo, my appetite made itself known after one particularly exhausting fitting room workout at H&M.
I nervously trudged over to the food court, and was pleased to discover a health-conscious restaurant called “California Crisp.”
Veggie Wrap (Romaine Lettuce, Onion, Tomatoes, Sprouts, Avocado, Hummus) and Laughably Small Fruit Salad
Their prices were fairly absurd (that shot glass of fruit was $0.75 extra!), but I’m always willing to pay more to eat less garbage…if that makes sense.
Also, it’s my personal belief that when one passes a self-serve yogurt shop, one must indulge:
Cake Batter Froyo (Toppings: Graham Cracker Crumbs, Mochi Candy. Blueberries, Brownie Bits, A Teeny Weeny Drizzle of Butterscotch Sauce)
Even if that happens two days in a row:
Circus Animals (A Childhood Favorite), Buttersotch Chips, Raspberries, Reeses Peanut Butter Sauce, Vanilla Froyo
What if it’s not up to me where I eat?
My brother is a generous lad. He’s not only loaning me his super sweet mustang, but he likes to take my Dad and me out to dinner often. The other night, we were in a particularly suburban area, where the closest you can get to exotic dining is P.F.Changs or The Olive Garden. When my brother asked if we were okay with eating at The Olive Garden, I immediately ignored the vivid memory of a drunken rant I once went on about how places such as “The Olive Garden” were the demise of society, America, and the integrity of food culture. (Jodi, if you’re reading this, you were my witness. I know you remember that diatribe well.) I also dropped three slices of pizza on the floor during that rant, but I digress.
Believe it or not, there are healthy (and dare I say it, tasty) options at the Olive Garden. It’s nothing that comes close to comparing to a meal in Italy, Little Italy, or even that little hole in the wall pizzeria I used to frequent on Columbus Avenue…but the Capellini di Mare surprised me in both quality and nutritional stats:
Shrimp, clams and mussels sautéed in white wine, garlic and a zesty marinara sauce. Served over capellini and topped with fresh basil.
The Nutritional Breakdown:
650 Calories
18 Grams of Fat
1830 mg of Sodium (Yikes!)
7 Grams of Fiber
???-Protein
I ate about half, and reserved the rest for leftovers. Also, since I was dealing with seafood I made a point to refrigerate the leftovers immediately and eat the following day. Seafood (especially shell-fish), has a very limited leftover lifespan!
So, as you can see, it is possible to maintain healthy eating in not-so-healthy situations. Or, as in the case of Andy Nguyen’s, situations where the portions (though inherently healthy food), are too huge for one person to consume.
These tips help me get the most food for my buck, and the smallest toll on my waistline:
1. Modify your order: Order dressing on the side, ask to leave out cheese, bring a plate for sharing, substitute fruit, salad or veggies for heavier sides such as french fries, mashed potatoes, homefries.
2. Doggie bags or take-out boxes are your best friend: Since most entrees are typically large enough for 2-3 people, eat just enough to satiate your hunger and ask your waiter for a to-go box before you impulsively eat the entire dish. Not only will this save you from diner’s remorse, but it will save you from making lunch or dinner the following day.
3. Give in, just don’t go off the deep end: Dining out is one of life’s nicest luxuries. You should embrace the opportunity to try new foods, create new memories, and indulge. Go for the chocolate mousse if it’s whispering sweet nothings to your belly, just be sure to share it with your dining companion(s).
What are your favorite tips for dining out sensibly?
I always order salad dressing on the side, skip the bread (or just stop at one piece), and go easy on the booze! (Aside from that previously mentioned time I ranted about the evils of The Olive Garden while losing grip of multiple pizza slices.)
love your tips!! What helps me is ordering what YOU WANT…if you don’t want croutons then TELL ‘EM…don’t want the extra cheese on top then TELL ‘EM…people are always afraid to ask for stuff on the side…i say “aint no shame…just tip!”. I also try to order shrimp if i’m eating out: shrimp marinara, fajitas, etc.etc. I get the protein but not the extra calories….but then I order 2 cupcakes…hmm…balance right? bTW I know cali has healthier options but when I went to NYC most of the locals AREN’T overweight (the ones I saw) is it cause the bad food places are for tourists?
HAHAH i can’t help but laugh at all those menu item names! there’s actually a place similar to that place near where i live in claremont!
lOVE IT
i LOVE eating out and agree that it is one of life’s luxuries. that being said, i think you have to pick and choose your battles, you know? i love bread and always eat it, and i adore wine and always order it – that doesn’t mean i eat the whole bread basket or drink the whole bottle. when i’m going to say, a chain restaurant, i’m not expecting culinary genius, so i figure out what looks good and healthy and don’t worry about asking for 5 modifications to a dish.
but when i’m going to one of the thousand restaurants in the city, i dive in with my foodie hat on and try whatever looks most fascinating. but again, if something tastes bad, i’m probably not going to eat it all just because it’s there. and if something is insanely delicious, i’m not going to tell myself i should only eat a reasonable portion if i feel like cleaning the plate. the main thing i try to do is be mindful and aware at each experience – it seems to work for me!
I am so jealous of all that delicious looking vegan food. That restaurant sounds awesome!
Love your tips, I just did a talk at work on eating out and one point I made is to yes, indulge if it is special, but don’t eat like you are never eating out again. Especially on business trips, etc. when you are eating out most meals it is important to keep them relatively healthy!
i don’t think i’ve ever been to an olive garden but it seems like a more delicious option than other chain restaurants.
All that food looks delish… especially the spring rolls!! As far as eating out tips, I usually order a salad (with dressing on the side) beforehand so that I’m getting in enough veggies. If I don’t get a salad, I try to get a side of veggies without butter.
I can totally relate on being a fro yo addict:) I’ve only been to one place that was the self serve type. And when I walked in it was like entering a fro yo paradise where I could have little tastes of all the flavors if I desired and spend as much time as needed debating all the merits of various toppings. I still dream of it to this day – you are a lucky lady to have access to such a place.
That yogurt combination is exactly my favorite! I love circus animal cookies!!
xoxo
Maggie
mybreakfastblog.com
I love that you put frosted animal cookies in your froyo! Yum! I’m sad that you’re no longer in NYC, but it looks like Cali is agreeing with you
I usually get full about halfway through my meal so I try to make sure to have that take out box in hand so I won’t be tempted to continue picking off my plate.
Animal cookies were my childhood favorite too!
As SOON as I saw “OLIVE GARDEN” I flashed back to that rant. Also, I flashed back to that rant the other night when I ATE THERE AND HAD THE WORST WAITER EVER. But, hey, Vince got a gift card for his birthday….hahaha. I MISS YOU!
I love your fro yo toppings
My plan at restaurants is to order as close to my normal eating pattern as possible: mostly vegetables, good grains, not too much (if any) dairy. If I’m feeling like dessert (which is… always) I’ll make a point of ordering a lighter entree. Often I’ll have a salad and a side for my main course – not only does it tend to be lighter and smaller, it’s also often cheaper.
if im going to a place where i can pick the food, i pick a vegetarian restaurant because i know there food will be healthy and delicious! if im at a place where i cant pick the menu and its all unhealthy food, i either order a salad and make modifications or order a light meat and try to sub all the sides of greesy fries for broccoli and such! wow your eats surely look amazing! that pasta dish looks to die for! i loveee animal crackers! espcially with p.b and sliced grapes, like a deconstucted p.b&j? haha have a great night <3
Ashley
chewingoncherries.wordpress.com
I love eating out too, and keep a lot of your points in mind, like only eating half or a third of a meal, eating one or two pieces of bread, and adding a salad, veggies, or fruit to a meal for extra servings of them.
That food looks very delicious.
yummy,….This is a very interesting point of view. Your blog is refreshing, but I wish one could find more content, though. I am looking forward to reading more from you. Keep up the good work. thanks
FABOOSH POST! however, my klassiness still remains on the fact that (a) in the last post, you had kefir (which i LOVE!) and (b) frosted animal crackers made an appearance, and they are the epitomy of my childhood.
thanks for the tips – i especially like the one about bagging 1/2 the meal up. sometimes we forget just how big restaurant portions are!
hope you are well dear – have a great Thursday!!!
p.s. do we get to see any of the cute clothes purchased?!?!
I love eating out or eating my takeout leftovers. All that food, especially the vegan fare, looks delish. But it’s definitely easy to overeat when the portions are so big. Great tips though.
I love those veggie/vegan food options at that place but those names are SO PRETENTIOUS! I couldn’t handle it.
wow, all those meals look delicious!
For dining out sensible I either order what I reallyyy want (if its not so healthy) and eat a portion of it plus a salad, or if what I realllyyy want happens to be healthy then I just get it and enjoy!