Tips on dining out with Diabetes and enjoying your dinner experience.

It seems impossible to eat outside to a regular cafe or restaurant with so many dietary issue for diabetics, it almost seems feels difficult to maneuver through all the restrictions. Don’t worry we’ve got some ideas and tips to make this experience pleasurable and doable with a little bit of pre-planning involved.

You’ll enjoy hanging out with good friends and family again if you adhere to some of these guidelines and ideas to make it an effortless and successful dining experience.

Choose the restaurant or pre-plan ahead

If you know a good restaurant that serves healthy alternatives, then suggest it. Or for a new place check the menu ahead of time and ask if the chef can prepare any healthy options.

Checking out the menu

So you start checking out the menu and can see that maybe a small percentage of the appetizer, entree and dessert might be limited in selection. Always as your server if they know if there are any alternatives to the menu is available for diabetics or is keto friendly.

Always look for the healthy prepared dish that is grilled, steamed, poached, braised, and broiled, these usually don’t add a lot of calories and use simple straight forward ingredients on the menu. Avoid dishes that are labeled creamy, breaded, crusted, crispy, and fried.

Tip – if your not sure, ask your server how a dish is prepared if it’s not clear on the menu and if they don’t know have them find out from the chef.

Portion control

Some main dishes are really generous servings and can be eaten another time. Ask your server how large a portion is offered or if they do have sizes or allow diners to share an entree dish.

Another option is to just eat appetizers with a healthy salad with a nice appetizer dish that will be a smaller portion but filling enough for your main meal.

Tip – For any sauces or dressings offered with a dish, ask if this can be done on the side so you can control the amount of sauce or dressing directly on your dish.

First course or appetizer selections

Lay off the breads and unhealthy appetizers, you might as well skip most of this section with fried foods, rich soups and cured meats or processed foods used to create them. I would say if you want to stick to salads or simple sauteed or baked dishes with low carb appeal then this is a feasible option.

Tip – Ask for the salad dressing on the side and use them sparingly especially if you don’t know the exact ingredients used to create the dressing.

Main course

Choose the main entrees that are simply prepared and either grilled, broiled or even roasted so that covers most fish, meats and poultry dishes.

Ask your waiter about substitutions on the sauces, the sides like changing out carb heavy foods and getting a salad or healthy vegetable.

Avoid dishes that are mixed dishes, heavy sauce or gravy, or even casseroles.

Avoid salty condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise or any special sauce or condiment.

Tip – Many main dishes will have sides that are not healthy, ask if a substitution is allowed like a salad or more vegetables to replace the fries or rice sides or some grain that can be swapped out.

Dessert

This is a toughie because I love sweets. Ask if there is any low carb or keto desserts available on the menu. opt for fruits or eat half a portion and take away for later.

Better yet order a dessert and have everyone share a bite

Drinks with dinner

It’s good to stay simple and drink water, none sweet tea, coffee or tonic or club soda. Maybe a lite beer or glass of wine might be okay if it is something your doctor okays on occasion.

Conclusion on dining out

Have fun and enjoy the company of friends without making dinner arrangements so complicated with these few tips and precautions above for an exceptional dining experience.

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