5 Simple Strategies For Eating Out Safely Free-From Style

Get armed with these 5 simple strategies for eating out safely free from style. Why? Have you ever been a part of a scenario something like this? You are out with family or a group of friends. A mealtime is approaching, and suddenly ALL EYES ARE ON YOU. No-one wants to pick a restaurant because they have little or no idea where YOU can eat. Or, people start naming places to eat like pasta houses … and you just resolve to be hungry. OUCH! Both can be painful or awkward, but they can be avoided or minimized.

Ever been there? I have. When I am put on the spot my mind used to have a tendency to draw blanks too. Ugh! I didn’t want to quit going out to eat with family and friends, so I decided to be proactive. Strategies were needed to avoid this happening, so I went to work on some. Below are the fruits of that “labor.”

5 Simple Stategies For Eating Out Safely Free From Style:

1. Think ahead. Simple as this may sound, making it a habit to check for allergen friendly dining options on your smart phone can help you to be part of the decision, not the whole decider. I needed to make this a habit, and it was only after I said “burgers” for the umpteenth time that I got a little smarter and began to plan ahead. There are many, many wonderful eating choices that can fit the budget. For example, if you really like salads, take along your own salad dressing in a little container. This is vital for me, as I react terribly to soy (which is in probably 99% of premixed salad dressings).
2. Take snacks along. I know that I say this a lot, but eating a little every 2-3 hours goes a long way towards blood sugar levels staying healthy. Have you ever been out with a group of friends and all of the sudden begin to feel like you are in a fog? I have, and it is shortly thereafter that my arm begins to look really appealing. Been there? Not been there? Carrying a meat stick, a little veggies, fruits or seeds keeps me happy and dialed-in to whatever I am doing or participating in.
3. Stay hydrated – drink water. We can feel hungry when we are actually thirsty, so keeping well hydrated is important to good health. There are all kinds of recommendations about water consumption and their correlating formulas, but the important thing is to drink plenty of water. One way to tell if you are drinking enough water is to check out the color of your urine (kinda gross, but a good measure on this); Is it darker and smelly, kind of with a vinegar type smell? You are dehydrated…drink more water. Our kidneys need lots of water so they can flush out all of the toxins. In an article by Medical News Today, Why is drinking water important?, James McIntosh says, “Every day, the kidneys filter around 120-150 quarts of fluid. Of these, approximately 1-2 quarts are removed from the body in the form of urine, and 198 are recovered by the bloodstream. Water is essential for the kidneys to function. If the kidneys do not function properly, waste products and excess fluid can build up inside the body. Untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, whereby the organs stop working, and either dialysis or kidney transplantation is required.”
4. Be proactive about asking the waiter/waitress about ingredients in menu options. You and I need to know, and there is not a good enough reason not to ask. Be courteous, but find out. I struggled with this at first, not wanting to offend, but quickly got over that after feeling awful about 24 hours after eating a few too many times. That is how long it takes my body to revolt. How about you? What is your time period to reaction? If you can find a menu online, you may be able to get answers there on larger, chain-type restaurants. If you are a bit shy about this, excuse yourself and approach the manager or wait staff away from the table.
5. Have a positive mindset. Enjoy the company and the time spent together. Our digestion is directly linked to our mental wellbeing. We really “are what we eat from our heads to our feet.” I spent a month in Europe when I was 15 on a basketball tour team, and I saw how the people enjoyed their time together at mealtime. It was as much a social event as it was to get fed. Rushing through our meals has led to a lot of indigestion nationwide, and also a lot of digestive-related health problems. We eat lots of veggies, fruits, meats and seeds. This diet can be eaten slowly and leisurely. When people are curious about our food choices, take the time to explain and consider it an opportunity to give potentially life-saving information for the good to someone. Take it in stride when they wrinkle their noses. Truth be told, maybe you and I would have done the same at an earlier time in our lives.

In conclusion, these 5 simple strategies for eating out free from style will help you to gain confidence and enjoy your time out more effectively. Free from eating is a healthy lifestyle choice that will help you and I have a high quality of life. When we feel better we have a better outlook on everything. This impacts not only us, but all the people we interact with every day. Having a plan helps us in everything we do. Teach your children to take these proactive steps when eating at friends’ homes, or even at school. Most of all, be positive with yourself and with others.

Update: Is all this a bit fuzzy for you? We can help. Check out our Grain Free For Beginners digital class. Also, visit our Grain Free Mama’s website at www.gfmamas.com