There are so many fad diet programs out there that it’s really hard to keep up with them. What do you follow? Are you on keto diet? If you are, you’re one of the lucky few because it’s not actually difficult to dine out in Tampa restaurants when you’re on this kind of diet. The rule in keto diet is that there should be no carbs and sweeteners in your meals. Meaning, you can eat as much protein as you like (bacon, yum) as long as you eliminate the starchy carbohydrates and the sugar.
Still, it’s nice to know how exactly to avoid these things when we’re out dining in restaurants. So, here are some suggestions that could guide you.
Reject the starch
You can ask the restaurant to make your meals healthier and without the unwanted carbohydrates. If you are ordering an entrée, substitute the mashed potato or the bread or the rice with more vegetables. If there’s a free basket of bread for starters, ask the waiter not to serve it anymore.
If you want a burger or a sandwich, you can ask for lettuce wraps instead of the buns. If it is not possible for the restaurant to find substitutes for the starch in your orders, simply eliminate the bread, rice, pasta, and potato. Just don’t eat them at all and leave them on your plate.
Add healthy fat
The reason why most meals are satisfying is because of the fat in them. That’s why we barely want lean meat. We want meat with a little fat in them. But if you’re in a keto diet, you would feel weak without the carbs and the fat. The trick is to ask the chef to add fat in your food.
That means adding another slice of butter that could melt on your steak or chicken. You could also ask for extra olive oil or vinegar dressing to pour on your salad and meal. Some restaurants use cheaper vegetable oils, which are not healthy, so try to carry a small bottle of olive oil with you when you go out.
Ask about the sauces
You’ll never know what ingredients are in the sauces. White sauce could contain flour. Ketchup could contain carbohydrates. If you are unsure about the ingredients of the sauces and the condiments, ask the waiter for it.
Make sure to avoid eating anything with sugar and flour in it. You could also ask for the sauce to be on the side, so you can measure out how much you need for the flavor.