Good blog. I don’t eat out much but when I do it is a resturant that uses local produce, as I like to know where some of my food comes from, and I take only so much money as to not overspend. Many good eye openers. Thanks.
Last night while out to dinner I was reminded of two research studies (yeah, I know, I’m a geek).
Allow me to set the stage.
We pull up to El Vez—a hip, Mexican-American restaurant in center city Philadelphia serving up some of the best guacamole (next to Eva’s of course) that I’ve ever had the pleasure of sampling. A truly euphoric experience for my mouth and buds of taste.
And naturally, when you have what is a somewhat euphoric encounter when visiting a restaurant, you make other visits to said restaurant…and I do…often.
But, just so happens that we arrive and there’s an hour wait. Bummer. I knew we should have called ahead.
Sitting at the bar, and observing the many orders of guac that sat atop it, I was reminded of the first study.
Did you know you’re bound to consume roughly 20% more “mindless” calories during a night out if you fail to call ahead than if you were to have a reservation? Weight loss research has shown exactly this.
And it makes sense. You’re hungry—that is, after all, why you’re at the restaurant. Not likely you’re going to just sit there for an hour. Instead, it’s much more likely that you’ll give in to the temptation of having a drink (or two) and partaking of an appetizer.
Extra, needless calories that can simply be remedied with a little forethought.
Lesson #1 – Make a reservation or at least call ahead to cut down your “temptation” time.
The second study came to mind when we went to pay the bill. Between the six of us, the bill was, well…it wasn’t cheap. And then everyone threw in their credit card for payment…
Did you know that if you pay with plastic you’ll likely spend more (and eat more) than if you settled your bill with cash? Research has also proved this. People spend, and subsequently eat, around 30% more when they pay via credit card. Simply put, when paying with money you’re borrowing, it’s very easy to lose track of how much you’re spending, and much easier to order that extra app, desert, or larger entrée.
Lesson #2 – Set a reasonable budget for your meal and carry cash to pay for it. It will force you to work within those limitations and you won’t easy overspend (and overinduldge).
Between the lessons learned from both of these studies, you just might save yourself from consuming a dreadful extra 50% in total calories the next time you enjoy a night out on the town!
Want to learn 3 other specific fat-burning tips that you can start using today? Check out the below link:
==> What “special” foods can boost fat-burning by 207%?
Enjoy the above tips!
Joel
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Just yesterday I had same expirience, but in this case we where waiting for friends. I forgot to mansion that I’m from italy so it’s wery usual for people to be late. To cat the story I was HUNGRY, very, and had eaten rissoto nero, calamari and last but not least red vine.
I’t was 11am.
Not good, couldn’t sleep all night and in the morning hade a great nightmare.
Interesting, I will keep that in mind next time, I don’t carry cash but pay by eftpost, and i do over eat much to my dissappointment,
Hi,
Great idea on carrying cash. This has to be a winner… oops I mean a calorie loser
Nick
Amazing tips…thanks for bringing to mind obvious mistakes in dining out
What a great point about paying with cash! We almost never carry cash, but every once in a while my parents will watch the kids and give us some cash to go out and get dinner. The first few times the money didn’t cover it, so now we’re really careful to get what we really like; we’ll avoid drinks, maybe share something, etc. We definitely order less. (As for your other tip, with a 5 year-old and 2 year-old, we don’t do a lot of “waiting in the bar” before dinner…LOL!)
Before my husband and I go out I will eat a few almonds or walnuts or sometimes and apple. If I feel I might want a drink I may have a glass of wine before we leave as well. Then I try to eat grilled or broiled fish and veggies. That way I know I won’t leave hungry or overeat.
I’m one of the lucky ones: we don’t drink, so sitting in the bar while waiting for a table just doesn’t happen. And after decades of being obese, my body is FINALLY cooperating with me– I just CAN’T eat all that food! Appetizers (aside from perhaps an “included” salad or soup) are out. Ditto for desserts. There’s just NO ROOM for all that food! Plus, I’m a cheapskate– we try to order from the Senior menu (if there is one) where the portions are usually smaller, or we share an entree. For the occasional restaurant that has the awesome appetizers, sometimes I’ll make one or two of them my “main course.” It CAN be done!
Hey Joel I live in Philly you shoulda told me you were there I woulda come down lol…..so how’d ya like the grub?
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Hey, it’s Joel! So you want to know a little more about me, huh? Well, I’d be happy to oblige :-)
I guess it all started back in 2001 (my freshman year of college) when I was just a “skinny fat” 19-year old kid. At the time, I was spending close to 2 hours a day in the gym (now my workouts last about 30 minutes), and despite my efforts, you’d probably never guess I worked out a day in my life by looking at me...