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Health and Fitness Tips for Living a Healthier Life
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Let's Eat Out . . . At Home In today's fast-paced society, overwhelmed with responsibilities, deadlines, and never-ending to-do lists, the last thing many of us want to do at the end of a long day is come home and cook. Picking up fast food or having someone else do the dishes after dining in a restaurant are very appealing to many men and women. Eating out at lunch is such an easy way to escape the office environment while grabbing a bite to eat to get you through the rest of the day (however, most of the time, would you agree that your noon-time meal leaves you feeling sluggish and tired?!). Although we relish the thought of having someone else do the cooking, such luxuries hold the potential to wreak havoc on one's nutritional intake (notice I did NOT use that four-letter word, "diet!"). A recent study suggests that when dining out, women tend to consume more than when eating at home. I would venture to say that, although men were not included in this study, the same holds true for the opposite sex. Researchers in this study found that on average, each woman consumed an extra 200-300 calories and an extra 10-16 grams of fat every day they ate out. Each of the women either ate at a restaurant or ordered take-out on seven of the fourteen days of the duration of the study. Translated, this amount of extra calories and fat means an extra TWELVE pounds of weight gain in one year - for eating out once every other day! But brown-bagging it to work everyday doesn't appeal to most people. Well, my response to that is, "What appeals to you more . . . taking your lunch most days or gaining twelve pounds a year?" I think the answer speaks for itself. Of course, there are ways to enjoy an occasional restaurant meal while eating at home. One method is to order a take-out entrée to enjoy at home, but prepare a salad yourself. By doing so, you avoid many of the salad add-ons that are responsible for the extra fat and calories, even in a salad, such as cheese, creamy dressings, eggs, nuts, and ham. If a relaxed atmosphere is what you are seeking at the end of a stressful day, perhaps you could enjoy a snack at home before heading out to your favorite restaurant. And if you dine with a friend or family member, you can each enjoy a salad followed by an entrée that you split. Other options are to enjoy a healthy appetizer - for example, fruit, cheese, and crackers - at home before heading out to dinner, and splurge on an entrée yourself, or share it. If you prefer to enjoy a freshly-made dessert, then dine at home and head out for after-dinner drinks and a dessert that can be split. And look for fruit-based treats such as sorbets or fresh fruit cups. If no aspect of dining at home appeals to you, keeping mind a few tips when eating out: Start by carefully reading the menu choices. Avoid anything that includes cream-based, heavy cream, fried, and coated in the description. Menu items that have been baked, grilled, dry-sauteed (beware the "sautéed" vegetables!), broiled, poached, or steamed are fair game. Sometimes an appetizer is enough to have as your meal, along with a side salad. Plan ahead to take half of your meal home for a later meal . . . two meals for the price of one! One more option is to enjoy a freshly-made gourmet meal in the convenience of your own home, but without the inconvenience of preparation. It is becoming more and more popular to have someone else do the cooking, while you sit back and relax in the comforts of your own home. Take-out gourmet dinners have increased, with more and more options for customizing your own menu. In many larger cities around the country, there are personal kitchens that offer a daily menu of prepared entrees, sides, and salads that you can pick up and serve as your own. Although not always the healthiest of choices, this option rates high on the convenience scale. Another healthier option is to hire a personal chef - a luxury that is becoming more and more the norm. Some of these specialize in the preparation of healthy meals in your home based on your personal preference. From experience, I can say that the meals rival that of the finest restaurants, minus the extra fat and calories! If the full experience of restaurant dining is what you are after - ambience, food, and convenience - than Charleston has plenty of excellent options. But keep in mind that the twelve pounds you may add may not be worth it, considering all the available alternatives!
Meredith Nelson, M.Ed, is the owner of PrimeTime Fitness, Inc, on Sullivan's Island, SC. Offering
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group fitness classes, PrimeTime Spin, private yoga, personal training, and monthly gym membership, Meredith divides her
time between the gym on Sullivan's Island and limited in-home training on Daniel Island, where she resides along
with her husband, Mark, and two cats. Meredith can be reached with your fitness questions at 843-883-0101, or
Meredith@primetimefit.net.
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