Eating Out

• Thai

Avoid
-Creamy Curries (Green Curry, Penang Curry).
-Crispy Duck and Chicken.
-Anything with a Coconut Milk base.
-Fried Appetizers (Curry Puffs, Money Bags, Spring Rolls).
-Fried Noodles (Pad Thai, Mee Grob).
-Fried Rice.
-Satay.
Instead Get
-Clear Soups.
-Non-Coconut based curries (Jungle Curry).
-Rice Paper Rolls.
-Salads.
-Skinless Chicken/Lean Beef Skewers (not Satay).
-Steamed Rice/Noodles.
-Steamed, Sauteed or Barbecued Seafood dishes.
-Stir-fries with Lean Meat and extra Vegetables.

• Chinese

Avoid
-Barbecued Duck/Pork.
-Deed Fried Appetizers (Dim Sim, Wonton, Chicken Wings).
-Fried Rice.
-Laksa.
-Lemon Chicken.
-Fried Dumplings.
-Peking Duck.
-Pork Spare Ribs.
-Sesame Prawn Toast.
-Salt and Pepper Squid.
-Sweet and Sour dishes.
Instead Get
-Clear Soups.
-Dim Sum.
-Hot Pot.
-Meat and Veges with Steamed Rice (Sauces: Oyster, Garlic and Chilli, Black Bean, Ginger).
-Steamed Buns/Dumplings.
-Zongzi.

• Pizza

Avoid
-Bacon toppings.
-Deep pan or Filled crust.
-Extra cheese.
-Meat-lovers
-Meatballs.
-Pepperoni/Salami.
-Supreme.
Instead Get
-Capricciosa.
-Hawaiian.
-Margherita.
-Seafood.
-Skinless Chicken.
-Thin Base.
-Vegetarian.

• Pub/Cafe

Avoid
-Bangers and Mash.
-Barbecued Ribs.
-Burgers
-Caesar Salads.
-Chips/Wedges.
-Club Sandwich.
-Creamy Pasta.
-Creamy Soup.
-Deep Fried Foods.
-Herb/Garlic Bread.
-Nachos.
-Steak Sandwich.
Instead Get
-Clear, Vegetable or Tomato soups.
-Garden/Thai Beef/Tandoori Chicken Salad.
-Grilled/Barbecued Fish/Steak.
-Lean meat wraps/sandwiches.
-Roast meat with Vegetables.
-Salt and Pepper Squid.
-Steamed Vegetables.
-Tomato Based Pasta Salads.

• Indian

Avoid
-Biryani.
-Tikka Masala.
-Creamy Curries (Butter Chicken, Shahi Paneer, Korma).
-Deep Fried Dishes (Samosas, Onions, Spinach Patties).
-Naan.
-Pork Dishes.
-Pulao Rice.
Instead Get
-Chicken Tikka.
-Jhinga Tandoori.
-Len Meat Vindaloo/Tandoori.
-Lentil/Vegetable Curries/Rogan Josh.
-Mango Chutney/Raita/Dhal.
-Marinated Chicken/Lamb Skewers.
-Plain Rice.
-Tandoori Roti.
-Vegetarian Parantha.

• Italian

Avoid
-Creamy Risotto.
-Creamy Sauces.
-Deep Fried Seafood.
-Eggplant Parmigiana.
-Lasagne.
-Sausage/Salami.
Instead Get
-Gnocchi in non-creamy Sauce.
-Grilled/Roasted Meat, Vegetable or Fish dishes.
-Pasta/Shellfish/Risotto in Tomato based sauces.

• Vietnamese

Avoid
-Banh Xeo.
-Crispy Met, Chicken or Seafood.
-Spring Rolls.
-Mi Xao Don.
Instead Get
-Banh Chung.
-Banh Cuon.
-Bo Kho.
-Clear Broths.
-Salads.
-Seafood/Lean Meat Stir-Fries/Noodles.

• Mexian

Avoid
-Burritos.
-Corn Chips.
-Crunchy Tortillas.
-Enchiladas.
-Nachos.
-Quesadillas.
-Taquitos.
Instead Get
-Chilli con Carne
-Chilli Verde
-Fajitas
-Frijoles, Tomato or Chilli based dips.
-Soft Tortillas.
-Tacos.
-Tostadas.

• Japanese

Avoid
-Fried Spring Rolls/Dumplings.
-Fried Rice.
-Sushi Rolls with Fried Fillings.
-Tonkatsu.
-Yakisoba.
Instead Get
-Miso Soup.
-Onigiri.
-Ramen Noodles in Broth.
-Sashimi.
-Sushi Rolls with Grilled/Raw seafood, Vegetables/Lean Meat.
-Yakitori.
-Yakizakana.

• Tips

1. Have a small meal about an hour before you go to dinner. It’ll prevent you being starving when you order and ordering too much.
2. Choose either an entrée and a main, or a main and a dessert. My boyfriend and I tend to go out for a main, then go to our favourite ice-cream place for a low-fat gelato/sorbet. It saves money and your waistline.
3. Share. Consider getting an entrée and dessert to share, that way you get all three courses without the guilt (plus your partner probably won’t notice if you eat way less than them).
4. Get an entrée sized portion instead of a main. Most restaurants serve way too much food, an entrée is really all you need.
5. Make your entrée a salad or soup.
6. Get dressings on the side, and choose a vinaigrette over a creamy dressing.
7. Make half your plate Vegetables (not including potatoes/kumara) or salad.
8. when ordering takeout, ask what the portion sizes are. One to share between two of you is probably enough.