Learn to Order Behind the Menu

Out for a night on the town with the guys, but want to stay on the right track? You need to learn to order behind the menu! The secret to ordering
"behind the menu" is actually to pick something from the menu that looks appetizing to you, then tweak it. Here are a few things I have discovered "behind the menu"

 Any dedicated fitness enthusiast will have a nutrition program (if not, and you would like one, contact me). Some more strict than others, but lets remember, we're not making a temporary change, being healthy is a lifestyle, not an event.

We all know it takes roughly 3 weeks to form a habit, about 3-4 months to start seeing a noticeable change. This is where you're friends will be complimenting you about your appearance. "Say Jimbo, you're looking good! What are you doing differently?" and about a year to make a full lifestyle change.. That being said, it's important that you keep yourself on track. No, a candy bar or an ice cream cone isn't going to kill you, but it's all in moderation my friends, eat responsibly! Keep the cheats few and far between! but in the mean time, Try these foods and restaurants to help you stay on track and annihilate the fat! 

Cafe Ole` 

Everybody loves Mexican cuisine, but everyone also knows the amount of sodium and calories this savory cuisine offers, which can put a severe dent in your calorie reduction. So I scouted around and finally found myself looking over the menu at downtown Boise's Cafe Ole` restaurant and finally I discovered it, Chicken Fajitas! We have our vegetables, our proteins from the chicken and black beans and also a decent amount of carbohydrates from the beans as well. 
1) Black Beans, NO RICE
2) ask for the meal to be cooked with no oil, just pan seered
3) no marinade or seasoning on the chicken!

Three easy steps to ensure you fill yourself up while keeping the calories low, enjoy!

Ihop (Post bar-dom!)

So the guys want to go out for some post party comfort food? You know there are only so many places are open at that time! Here's what I found at Ihop..

1)1 whole egg, 2 whites over medium cooked plain, no butter (no scrambled, as it contains an unknown amount of pancake batter
2) an order of turkey bacon or turkey sausage
3) Whole Wheat or Rye Bread, NO BUTTER
Here you have your fat, protein, and carbohydrates all for around 300 calories. Feel free to grab some orange juice or coffee, but watch the creamer as the calories and fats will add up fast!

Steakhouse

Keepin' it classy eh? Well here's a good bit of advice..

A nice steak house will trim, season, and cook your steak to your personal preference. They also will offer several assortments of sides, which at most steak restaurants includes some steamed vegetables.
For example.. I would order..
1) 12oz sirloin, unseasoned, cooked rare and fat trimmed
2) Steamed vegetables and asparagus
3) toss some Parmesan on the veggies and you're good to go!

Drinks

As the more nutritionally minded of us know, "light" beer isn't exactly.. well.. light.
Most of our fellow party-goers will consume roughly 1100 calories in "light" beer in one night out.  Most of us modern warriors will skip the alcohol and go for water, but if you must drink try these..

Rum and Diet Coke

Keep in mind, the coke is diet, but the 1oz of rum will contain roughly 64 calories

 

 

 

 

 

Michelob Ultra Light Cider

 

 40 Calories p/12 oz

 

 

 

Miller Genuine Draft 64

 

64 cal p/12oz 

 

 

 Monster Absolute Zero and Jager (personal favorite) 

 

 

 Be careful with this guy, its really easy to have a lot, just because they taste like candy!

                          

 

 

103 cal p/1 oz  

No matter what you do, you can't avoid empty carbs or calories when it comes to alcohol, so drink accordingly to your nutrition and burn the excess. Enjoy in moderation and drink responsibly!