Eating out on Friday

[Stepanovna]

Hey there everyone.

So I'm just starting this weight loss and healthy eating journey tomorrow and I remembered I have a dinner date planned on Friday evening. A couple of my girlfriends and I are heading to a Chinese restaurant near campus.

Now, this restaurant has your standard menu for a Chinese place. I was just wondering what you would all suggest for an Atkins friendly meal. I'm thinking of getting the "sauteed string beans and broccoli" (I'm fairly devout Eastern Orthodox and my family doesn't eat meat on Fridays). Does that sound alright? Or should I look for something steamed instead?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Eating out on Friday

If there's a sauce on the green beans, then the sauce might have sugar or cornstarch as a thickener.

Same could be true of the steamed.

Some acceptable choices might be egg-drop soup, steamed tofu with vegetables, sauteed spinach with garlic.

As you're in the Induction phase of Atkins, stick to dishes that are stir-fried, steamed or broiled, and ask for sauces to be served on the side.

Hope that helps.

[imagood1]

Re: Eating out on Friday

If they have a "Mongolian Bar-B-Que" area you will be able to choose the vegetables you want to eat and spices you want put on top....if not, I'd go with the suggestions Atkinsgal gave you above -- especially the egg drop soup. Good luck!

[JulieB]

Re: Eating out on Friday

Chinese is one of the hardest places to get a low-carb meal. Bummer - it is so good! Some restauraunts marinate their meat in a sugar-laden sauce, most of the sauces have cornstarch...then there's the rice & noodles The suggestions above should get you through it though.

[Suzanne_H]

Re: Eating out on Friday

Most Chinese restaurants I've been to offer vegan choices that would comply with your Friday fasting. I'm sure you could order a steamed vegetable plate free of sugared sauces. Many of the sauces contain hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, and other ingredients high in sugars. I like mongolian bbq myself.

[chinadoll]

Re: Eating out on Friday

Anna, are you going to a Chinese restaurant in a Chinatown setting? Or a suburban one? It makes a difference. Authentic Chinese restaurants offer better choices. Americanized ones are much tougher for low carbing.

[Stepanovna]

Re: Eating out on Friday

Hey everyone. Thanks for the advice!
I live in New York. The actual restaurant isn't in Chinatown, though. It's Upper West Side.

I think I'll probably just order some steamed veggies instead of ordering off the menu. I'll work with what they give me!