This past week, something happened that (aside from out-of-town vacations) has never happened before in my life. Every single night of the week from Sunday through Thursday, I ended up eating out at a restaurant. Usually, my wife and I will eat out once or twice a month, and maybe do take-out one more time. The line-up was Chinese, bar grub, upscale Italian, pizza, and tapas.
I have blogged in the past about nutrition for older adults and have noted that eating at home with foods that we have made ourselves is usually a healthier option. Using real ingredients whose names we can pronounce cuts down on ultraprocessed foods that are associated with more negative health outcomes. When we eat at restaurants, it is sometimes difficult to know how the food was prepared, how long it has been sitting around, and whether you are really getting what the menu promised. I recently ate at a well-known cheesecake restaurant where I ordered branzino off the “healthier” menu; the meal was delicious, but, as a pescatarian, I can tell you that was not branzino, but tilapia.
Even so, there is a social aspect to eating out which is good for us. Having more social connections along with getting up off the couch and going out is associated with better health outcomes. And, of course, there are times when eating out is the best option for any number of reasons.
What it comes down to is moderation–not a new idea. Never eating at restaurants is not an attractive option for most people. Eating out every night will likely mean higher levels of carbs, unhealthy fats, and sugar. At the same time, for those who struggle with portion control, having a set portion on the plate is a plus. There are also ways that we can plan in advance. Last week, I knew this was going to be the line-up, so I ate more carefully during the rest of the day knowing that dinner would be more difficult to control. It is also possible to order more healthy choices like salads, lean meats, and vegetable-based proteins.
The scale did show a slight gain at the end of the week, but it could have been worse. This week, the plan is to eat at home and get back on track with healthier eating.
