Dining In or Eating out? Which is Right for Today's Youth

As college students, eating out is often the only option you have. And the moment you enter that economic Chinese place that boasts of shabby-chic (well mostly shabby than chic), near your apartment or hostel, the smell of honey chilli chicken whooshes into your nostrils and makes you drool incessantly. Soon you forget all your dietary goals and budget constraints and dive straight in, to over-ordering a meal fit for an entire family of four. And while you are feeling guilty munching on sticky chicken wings that are leaving behind a sinful trail of sauce; you reflect on your culinary mutiny and secretly plan to cut short your stationery budget of pens to make up for this deliberate slip up. 

You begin to feel like an addict gone out of control who simply cannot justify their failure to meet dietary limits, is it just stress eating or is this happy eating?!  Soon the nightmarish thoughts of you asking for pants of waist-size ‘bear and Chinese food’ come to your mind and leave you shaken as you feel your bulging tummy, tugging to the extreme stretches of your shirt/top. 

The tasty dine-out food washes your mouth with a stream of unending saliva and leaves you satiated with a full stomach but almost leaves you feeling emotionally dirty as you count down the calories of your indulgence.

Nay we say...

We do not want our fellow foodies feeling the guilt of closeted fatties (who just feel fat) each time they bite on something tasty. Here we will discuss how you can choose to dine-out and still maintain your weight-loss regime. Read on and while you’re at it, loosen up your tight budgets with card that offers student discounts in restaurants.

Choosing the right foods to order:

You have no idea how easy it is to eat up saturated fats, processed sugars and too much salt without realizing when you have not prepared the food yourself. Also one may end up eating much more than the right portion when served with tasty chef prepared dishes neatly placed on good-looking crockery by smiling servers.

A good rule of thumb to follow when eating out is to not rush and savour your food by eating slowly. That might get difficult when you are too hungry and have been waiting a long time before having food on your plate (you almost began to believe you’re Katniss from Hunger Games). So, the moment the piping hot food is placed you gulp it down at the risk of painfully burning your upper palate. Simply stop as you do not need to clear out your plate. Start eating slowly and as you go savour it and spice it up with a hearty conversation if you have company, and then simply stop when you are done.

Mustering the food swaps:

• Instead of pies, bacon and sausages (avoid cold cut meats) swap it out with healthier versions like pulses, lean meats like ham and chicken and fish (not fried).

• For sauces which have cream and cheese order ones with tomatoes and vegetables instead.

• Always order steamed or boiled rice instead of pilaf rice or fried rice or egg fried rice.

• For desserts go fruity with fruit-based desserts that are high on taste and low on fat. Swap out the ice creams, chocolate cakes or puddings with frozen yogurt instead. Fruit salads also pack ample punch when it comes to taste and calorific value.

• Take a sip of plain water or fruit juice instead of a sugary fizzy drink or alcohol.

• Order dressing on the side to only add as much as you want.

Some other menu-savvy tips:

1. Request the chef to not add salt while cooking your food and add it later 
2. Stay off from nibbles like bread or similar things before your food arrives 
3. Do not order dessert until you have finished the main course 
4. Always avoid super-size or extra large meal versions regardless of how tempting they may look and take regular or smaller proportions

Stay healthy while still eating out and maintain the thickness of your pocket with a student card that provides discount offers in restaurants.