Eating Out Thread - P2 Fast Food!

[annabelle]

I had to eat out today, so I went to Cheesecake Factory. I requested (and got) a salad with just romaine, red onion and grilled chicken. There was a little more grilled chicken on it than I normally eat, so I just left a few pieces in the bowl. It was a really yummy p2 meal, and they were great about creating the salad, even though it isn't anything on their menu.

[AmandaJ]

In the past I have actually been at McDonald's and ordered a chicken sandwich plain and a small salad. I threw away the bun and cut the chicken breast in half and all was well. Not always the best choice but I was in a pinch and it worked.

[pbgirl]

My husband and I ate Subway salads with onions, tomato, lettuce, and grilled chicken. We brought our own dressing. Never had problems with this round 1.

[vivere]

Went to a BBQ joint with the family. Wow - gobs of gooey and sweet ribs, chicken, tri-tip and loaded with sides with starches. Eye-opening!

I ordered a Ceasar salad (no dressing or croutans) basically chopped romain, and added a grilled chicken breast - salt/pepper no butter or oil. Then asked for mustard and cider vinegar and mixed it with some Stevia. Worked really well!

[catgrneyes]

When stuck and I have to eat out, I try for either steak, or mexican. At mexican restaraunts I usually get a beef fajita and only eat the meat and maybe the onions and lettuce if they serve some, sometimes only the meat. I have also eaten the meat out of a chile verde burrito and lost the next day, I'm sure there is some flour added to thicken up the mixture, but I don't eat the breadsticks so I figured it would be ok in a pinch, seemed to work out. I usually try for non chain places b/c there is less sugar/additives in their stuff.

Hello all.
I've also found that mexican is my "go to" eating out when with friends. I will order the beef (or chicken) fajitas and ask that they be grilled with no oil or butter. I split the meat in half and take the other home to make a "soup" the next day. I will then ask for a bed of shredded lettuce with pico de galo and squeeze lemon on it. I've had really great success with that.
Cathy

[lovesaubrey]

I went to Red Robin yesterday for my husband's birthday. I ordered the simply chicken salad with no cheese, croutons or bread. I then used a side of salsa for the dressing. I was worried about mixing veg (lettuce and tomato in the salsa) and about added sugar in the salsa. I drank a lot of water and was still down this morning. I didn't even cheat - which was difficult because the waitress brought 3 containers of fries for the table to munch on while we wait. I thought I was gonna die smelling all the good stuff but walked out ok.

[susanbaz]

I had to eat out today, so I went to Cheesecake Factory. I requested (and got) a salad with just romaine, red onion and grilled chicken. There was a little more grilled chicken on it than I normally eat, so I just left a few pieces in the bowl. It was a really yummy p2 meal, and they were great about creating the salad, even though it isn't anything on their menu.

This post just reminded me I had that same meal on P2 at Cheesecake Factory.My mistake was trying to make do with their "diet" dressings, however sparingly!

[susanbaz]

I really tried to avoid fast food and restaurants on P2 and tried to make sure I always brought my food with me. I didn't always eat at home, brought lunch to work, brought dinner to friend's houses on occasion, brought snacks just in case, etc...Just because I couldn't eat at home didn't meant I was going to eat fast food. I had a chicken salad at Taco Bell, only time I ate fast food on P2, and had them hold everything except the lettuce and chicken. I used plain hot sauce (sugar free) as a dressing. Had a 1 lb gain the next morning! Just not worth it to me...

I had similar results at Baja Fresh...I ate just chicken & pico de gallo. I later found out there is lime juice in the pico, so I don't know if that was it or not...but for me in P2, I just did not do well with any restaurant food.

Once I had to get a grilled chicken sandwich from Burger King and wiped it off the best I could...even still...not good.

[susanbaz]

I went to Red Robin yesterday for my husband's birthday. I ordered the simply chicken salad with no cheese, croutons or bread. I then used a side of salsa for the dressing. I was worried about mixing veg (lettuce and tomato in the salsa) and about added sugar in the salsa. I drank a lot of water and was still down this morning. I didn't even cheat - which was difficult because the waitress brought 3 containers of fries for the table to munch on while we wait. I thought I was gonna die smelling all the good stuff but walked out ok.

Good for you!!! Just think...now you get to feel proud of yourself for not letting those fried starch sticks getting the better of you!

Congrats!

[lovesaubrey]

thanks! it was so tough for a carb-o-holic like myself. I love Red Robin fries dipped in ranch and ketchup. Can you tell I have some cravings??
P3

[jsszgrl]

I usually have taco bell if I have to do fast food. I get two fresco tacos and scoop out everything and I still have average loss.

[Eggie]

Zaxby's makes their salads fresh, not ahead of time like McD's, Wendy's, and other major chains. I've had luck with their House Zalad with grilled chicken, ask for no cheese and no fried onions. Skip the dressing and its only 225 calories according to their website. (Lists the ingredients and calories in each item.) It has some sliced tomatoes and some diced cucumbers, so I just skip my fruit. Chicken is never greasy and flavorful enough that I don't add anything else to the salad. Have thought about keeping some vinegar in my desk, but haven't bothered yet. First thing I do when I get back to my office is toss the toast to my dog.

Chickfila is my second choice because their grilled chicken garden salads are pretty fresh for prepacked, and they put the cheese in a neat little pile in the corner so its easier to dispose of. Its hard to tell if the chicken is greasy or not because its cold. I know we shouldn't have broccoli in P2, but I always eat it anyways. Especially because the chicken portion is on the small side. Their website doesn't break down the components of the salad, but they claim the whole thing is only 180 calories sans dressing. (I find it hard to believe though, probably more like 200 or so.)