One of the most common questions my clients ask me is: “but how do I go out to eat with dietary restrictions?” And I completely understand, because I used to feel the exact same way. I’d be totally fine when I could cook my own food, but it felt like an entirely different ballgame when going out to eat.

It took some trial and error, but I’ve finally reached a place where I can go out to eat without worry… with a few caveats. I don’t go to certain restaurants where I know the quality is low, where I know I’ll have to make massive compromises, or where I won’t be able to make simple modifications — and I don’t feel like I’m missing out, because if I’m going to spend my money on having a meal prepared for me, it damn better be a good one!

That said, part of going out to eat is relinquishing the control; you cannot possibly control every single aspect of your food when you aren’t buying and cooking it yourself. And this is important to note, because the thing is: that’s OKAY. It’s important to let go of control once in awhile, because remember, being overly controlling about the food you eat, for the “sake of your health,” can become unhealthy. The goal is to develop a healthy relationship with food, and that means letting loose every once in awhile. It’s so much better for your overall wellbeing to go out to a fun meal with friends vs. sitting at home by yourself so that you can cook the “perfect” healthy meal.

So! Here are some helpful tips, requests you can make, and easy modifications you can ask for the next time you have plans to go out to eat:

Take a look at the menu beforehand and go in with a (flexible) game plan. This is such a simple way to set yourself up for success (and avoid the possible panic when you get there of having to make a quick decision that you might later regret.)
Eat something small at home first so that you don’t go into your meal starving. Being totally starving means you’ll be likely to over-do it — again, this is about setting yourself up for success in really easy and sustainable ways.
Look out for terms like fried, crispy, battered, coated, sauced. This usually means some combination of gluten, poor quality oils, refined sugars, and more.
Ask for burgers/sandwiches to be put on a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. So simple, and you’ll find more often than not that you won’t even miss the bread.
Ask for your meal to be cooked in olive oil instead of junky oils like canola, soybean, and other vegetable oils (these are rancid + toxic to your body).
If you’re avoiding certain food groups like gluten, dairy, soy…. ASK! Always double check with your server, and feel free to make simple modifications where needed (things like, can the chef make that gluten free? can I remove the cheese? is it possible for the dish to be soy free?)
Fill up on veggies, proteins, and high quality fats, especially before diving into the refined carbs. In other words, start off your meal with a nice salad instead of the bread basket.

And, because I know this is a huge part of many people’s concerns, here’s some short + sweet advice for not feeling like a burden when making special requests while out to eat:

Stop worrying so much. You have the right to know how your food is being cooked and what's in it... and the right to eat the thing you actually want. You're paying for it. And if you’re worried about annoying the people you’re out to eat with… this is a friendly reminder to prioritize spending your time with people who understand and support you. And when people don’t?⁣ ⁣Shrug it off, do you, and know that taking care of yourself doesn't make you "un fun" or annoying - it makes you a more present + more joyful person.

Ready to become the glowing bride you DESERVE to be? Then I’m ready to guide you there. Take a look at the different ways we can work together here!

Curious to learn more & see if bridal nutrition is right for you? Schedule a FREE clarity call and let’s chat about it!