Restaurant Options That Won't Wreck Your Diet

With so many restaurants in the Denver area to choose from, it can be tempting to deviate from an eating regimen. Much like going grocery shopping on an empty stomach, the selections available can be incredibly tempting and the urge to overindulge often wins. When you and your significant other (or Tinder/Bumble/Hinge/latest impersonal app date) make plans to go out on the town, go with a guilt-free game plan that allows you to enjoy a variety of eateries.

Alcohol

Okay, I know alcohol is the enemy of weight loss, but sometimes duty calls for a libation. Stick to a vodka soda, straight tequila, light beer, or a glass of red wine if you need a little somethin' somethin' to take the edge off.

Sushi

Sushi is a great go-to option for dieters so long as you avoid the fried or sauce-heavy rolls. Choose rolls with ample veggies, seaweed wraps, oily fish, sashimi, and, if available, see if you can request brown rice instead of white rice on the rolls.

Mediterranean 

The Mediterranean diet is touted as one of the healthiest diets as well as one of the most reasonable. Fish, olive oil, red wine, whole grains, vegetables, poultry, and fruits are all encouraged for consumption.

Mexican

The ideal choices on this menu include tacos or salads with grilled chicken, fish, or shrimp as well as tortilla soup. If you're hankering for tacos, ask if having lettuce wraps or corn tortillas over flour tortillas are possible.

Italian

Just because Italian restaurants have a pasta-heavy menu doesn't mean you can't enjoy a meal there. Start with a salad to get a fill of greens then move onto fish or poultry for your entree. Choose red sauce over white sauce since creamier sauces lean towards a heavier caloric intake. 

Chinese

Stick to veggies and meats like beef and broccoli, but run away from sweet dishes like orange chicken due to the high sugar content. Be sure to avoid Chinese restaurants that use MSG as a flavoring agent as this makes you eat more. Moo shu chicken and vegetables as well as steamed dumplings are among the best choices for a healthy night out at a Chinese restaurant.

Vietnamese

I don't know about you, but eating anything Vietnamese seems to always leave me feeling full and happy, especially when sitting down with a beau. Vegetable-filled spring rolls, pho soup, and clay pot fish are just a few of the many healthy choices available as Vietnamese cuisine is known as one of the best options for weight-watching diners.

Brunch 

Since Denver is a brunch town, I couldn't possibly leave this one out. As a breakfast food lover, I wish more dates were held at brunch. Give me coffee and bacon and you have the happiest little belle in shoe leather, not battle-worn after a long day at the office, but I digress. To keep a brunch meal in line with your dieting efforts, choose dishes that involve eggs (or egg whites) and bacon, veggies such as sweet potatoes, avocado, and spinach or opt for huevos rancheros which combine eggs and veggies for a hearty meal.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Dashing out the door but still want a healthy breakfast? Check out these choices!