Treating dining out as a treat

[TimN]

My understanding of the goal of the 30 day period is to reform new and improved behaviors/choices around food. I'm wondering if anyone ever sees going out to eat as a form of a "treat". I've noticed that the two times I've gone out during this period that:

1. I went off plan with less than optimal food choices.

2. I had a really strong emotional/psychological subconscious reaction to ordering and being out.

3. This response is very similar to how I feel when I'm under the influence of sugar.

I went out last night and stayed on plan, but the first half of the evening was less than optimal and I almost lost it when the simple salad I ordered arrived with cheese and croutons MIXED into it. I was really hungry(poor choice of not eating enough for lunch in anticipation of going out at night) and barely kept it together. The rest of the meal was better and the meat was excellent. I'm sure in the final analysis it was not totally whole30, but it was the best possible with the situation.

So the question is has anyone else experienced this same phenomenon of the act of eating out as triggering negative emotions/behaviors/choices? Should eating out be regarded the same way as a "treat" by those of us who are so inclined? Just some rambling thoughts this morning.

Eat and be well everyone.

Tim

[anm54]

Hi Tim,

I have kind of experienced the same thing. My fiance and I are avid movie goers and ALWAYS get a bag of popcorn to share and a soda. Since starting our whole 30 we don't do that anymore. The first time we went to the movies and didn't get our normal snack it wasn't too bad. I put together little bags with nuts to help us out. The second time we went I felt DEPRESSED. The movie going experience didn't seem as fun and I never realized how much the popcorn and soda I got at the theater made me feel happy. It is an interesting thing to see how much things like going out for food or different activities that offer food really affect you.

[Johnny M]

I found dining out on whole30 to be extremely hard for many of the reasons you mentioned. Even when I thought I'd modified the meal as best I could, I'd eat some meat that would give me horrible indigestion and realize later it could have easily been dusted in corn starch, sugar, flour, or who knows what else. I also found that I just enjoyed what I cooked at home more than anything i found in any restaurant.

Do yourself a huge favor and get comfortable with sending food back. You are paying for it! I would get so stressed ordering and feeling like I was putting the servers out but you have to just let go of that. You may not experience the full whole30 benefits without strictly eliminating foods like cheese. I know there are some difficult situations but in addition to the 30 days being required for rebuilding behaviors like you mentioned, you need the 30 days for some physical healing as well that only happens when you remove the food groups we eliminate on whole30.

[PattiM]

I have a fear of this as well. Bad food choices, overindulging in cocktails, etc. My 40th birthday falls less than a month after my Whole 30 is supposed to end. I had a chat with my husband about my birthday dinner and asked if we could make a trek to Palo Alto or the City for a Paleo friendly meal.

In that, the meal out is the treat. Knowing that I will be somewhere that will cater to my desires makes the entire experience the treat. Eating at a resturant used to be a convenience for me, knowing that a Paleo meal out is going to be pricey and infrequent will hopefully make it special. (And I do realize that my proximity to cities with these kinds of choices is fortunate)

[Megan Claydon]

I find that it is so easy to let your mind and taste buds wonder off to crazy-town when you are suddenly let out in public for a meal. The whole 30 is great, there are rules and restrictions that keep you eating at home, away from social pressures and devilish temptations. But the second best thing about the w30 is when you are done. You have this new shiny toy. Your body and hormones have been reset. Now it is time to experiment with certain food choices to see which you can and can't handle. Some things that you dearly love you will find do not love you back (that would be queso for me :/). Some foods you will be surprised to find don't completely throw you off the rails. Figure these out and it will make your post whole 30 life so much more pleasant.

So for example, if we go out to get mexican food with friends. Even if queso is ordered, I already know in my mind that it is off limits for me. It's just not worth it. If you have these types of food figured out before you head out, it makes the dining experience easier. So make you own Whole Life Rules to abide by.

I hope that makes sense! Know your body. Make your rules for living optimally. So maybe the next time you go out, you know without a doubt that eating any kind of bread will make you feel terrible. So if a salad comes out with croutons, there is not internal debate going on in your head. You immediately send it back. But maybe it has a little parmesan cheese on it and you know that it won't throw you for a loop, it's a special occasion out with friends, and you are really going to savor that cheese. Than I say enjoy!

[jhmomi]

TimN - I feel your frustration. It can be a big challeng to eat out during a Whole 30. I still eat out with my family on my Whole30 but I keep my food very simple by sticking to a big salad topped with protein. I did my first Whole30 in February and this month is my second. The salad possibilities are generally very good. I order the steak/chicken/fish "Dry Grilled with no seasoning". Then I ask for balsamic vinegar or fresh lemons/limes and olive oil and I add salt and pepper myself at the table. I have asked for plain nuts instead of candied ones and been giving a huge serving on the side to add to my salad. If I say no cheese, it seems they will add plenty more of the other veggies and fruit. And I look at all the various salads and specifically ask for toppings that didn't necessarily come with my particular menu order. It's never been a big deal to get olives (the bar always has them) or avocado added for example. One mistake I made before had to do with oranges. I forgot almost all the oranges restaurants put on salads are the canned mandarin oranges. I treat myself to Pelligrino with lime instead of a drink depending where we go. During a Whole30 these salad meals also satisfy me because someone else prepped it for me and I know it's Whole30 compliant. I also think since I always plan to order a salad, it doesn't depress me to get to the restaurant and actually have a salad. I think its personally more depressing to scour the menu and try unsuccessfully to make another item fit into the plan for my Whole30.

Hang in there and good luck with the rest of your Whole30.

[Suzy]

Jhmomi, that is the best post I've seen on dining out. Ever. Scouring the menu, trying to find something compliant is a huge pain in the ass. It's depressing and it distresses the person who might be paying for your meal. It's an experience not just for us, but for the people with whom we share meals. Not to be co-dependant-sounding here, but if you can't fully enjoy a sushi bar right now, please take a rain check and enjoy a night out after a Whole30. We can do almost anything for 30 days, right?