Real-Life Advice on Ordering Healthy Meals from 5 Trusted Food Writers & Nutrition Experts
Posted by Sara on Monday, June 30th, 2014 with Comments Off on Real-Life Advice on Ordering Healthy Meals from 5 Trusted Food Writers & Nutrition Experts Comments
Following “expert advice” on food and nutrition is tricky. With Time magazine’s recent cover literally ordering us to “Eat Butter” and a never-ending supply of articles on the latest cleanses and cold-pressed juices to try, it can be hard to parse out simple, applicable advice from so-called experts on nutrition and healthy eating… especially when we’re trying to navigate the real world of ordering wisely at restaurants or eating healthy meals at the office (rather than preparing organic vegetables from our backyard gardens or buying shares of a grass-fed cow).
Mark Bittman is one of the top food writers publishing today: what does he have to say about eating out?
Image source: Flickr user Mike Licht
But that doesn’t mean the advice isn’t being given. Some of the most trusted food writers and even celebrity nutritionists are still doling out simple, straightforward tips that real people can use in their real lives. I recently spent some time rounding up takeaways from five of the most famous health-conscious (and conscientious) sources out there today. And of course, I wanted to know what their advice was on a dilemma many of us face every day: how to eat healthy when dining out.
Here’s what they’ve had to say:
Marion Nestle, New York University professor and public nutrition activist, writes in a column for The Atlantic:
“If I could teach just one thing about nutrition, it would be this: Larger portions have more calories. Funny? Portion size is anything but obvious… How to deal with the portion size problem? Use small plates and cups in the dining hall. When eating out, order appetizers, not entrees. Order the small size, or share large portions with friends. The system is stacked against you and it’s up to you to figure out how to cope with it.”
Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, advises The New York Times on eating healthy while traveling for business:
“For breakfast, I always have oatmeal at a hotel, never do the breakfast buffet. When we’re faced with a variety of food, we eat more. If you’re just eating oatmeal, you’ll get full and you’ll stop. But if you introduce a new food, you will discover you have more appetite that you didn’t have.”
And in a post on dining out for The Sustainable Restaurant Association:
“Determine your own portion size, no matter how much you’re served. Restaurants serve supersize portions to make you feel you’re getting your money’s worth. Often it’s enough for another serving. So ask them to wrap it to go– in which case you will be getting your money’s worth.”
The Biggest Loser‘s Jillian Michaels tells Health magazine her best practice for office meals:
“Make a ‘slim lunch options’ book of all the takeout places in your area where you know there’ll be healthy things to eat. When I used to have an office job I’d think, OK, there’s the Italian place, but I can get the antipasto salad with light cheese, no salami, dressing on the side.”
In his book VB6, which advocates eating an all-vegan diet until 6pm (and then eating meat and dairy in moderation), New York Times columnist Mark Bittman writes:
“In restaurants, start your meal with vegetable soup, or make it your main course… Get salad or fruit instead of fries or chips… Compose your restaurant meals creatively to break out of the meat main-dish mind-set: Order all side dishes or focus on vegetable-heavy appetizers and soups. Don’t be apologetic about ordering what you want from the menu.” (pp. 108-109)
“Be selective about where on your plate you’re going to splurge, and try your best to cut back on the rest of the meal. If you love mashed potatoes with gravy, consider rounding out the meal with an order of grilled fish or chicken and a side of veggies to keep total calories down. In other words, indulge in moderation, and make some calorie-conscious choices to offset your treats.”
And that’s the beauty of making Waiter.com part of your plan for eating balanced, wholesome office meals: we offer online ordering from a wide range of restaurants with diverse menus, so you can figure out the best kind of healthy diet… one you’ll actually enjoy eating!
When it comes to feeding employees and coworkers, make your company's food program really count! If your workplace dining plan needs to take it up a notch — or if you don't have one at all — Waiter.com is here to help. From Virtual Cafeteria Service to diverse menus to local takeout & delivery, Waiter.com offers customizable dining solutions for every business and budget. Contact us today to get started!
