Hello,

My friend wants me to go out for dinner with her tonight and I agreed but I am not quite sure what to order.

On Tuesday I just got finished my first two weeks of induction. I would still like to stay around 20 carbs a day for a little longer.

I can't eat seafood. I was thinking maybe plain chicken and salad with no dressing and I will bring my own.

Anybody else of any ideas? I live in Canada. Not sure where we are going yet to eat. Looking at Kelseys, Montana's, Swiss Chalet, Moxie's. These restaurants are all in my area.

Please help and thanks in advance.

Kathy

I eat out everyday for lunch, it is a lot easier to eat this way at a restaraunt than you think (except for Italian). I always order sandwiches (burger or chicken) without a bun, and instead of fries, I get brocolli or salad. The other options are chicken ceasar salad, or grilled chicken salad. When you are at the restaraunt, don't be afraid to ask questions about your food. You are the customer. No ketchup, ask if it is mayo or if it is salad dressing type mayo. You can order a steak if you want, ask for double veggies instead of potato. Some of the restaraunts I go to actually have a note in the corner of the menu to ask for "atkins" or "low carb" and they have a planned replacement for potatoes, it is becoming a lot more common that you would think. Have fun and enjoy your evening out!

When in doubt... chicken Caesar Salad (or some bastardized version thereof) is almost always on the menu.

Thanks for your replies.

Just wondering with the chicken caesar salad do you order it without the dressing?

I love to get steak tips with peppers and sometimes smothered in cheese, with buttery broccoli on the side. No one can believe it when I tell them it's "diet food"!

I alway get the dressing on the salad, just remember to pick off the croutons!

I order chicken and chalet salad and bring my own dressing, I even eat a little of the chalet dipping sauce too.

Vikki

blue cheese dressing seems to be a safe one.

I will either use blue cheese, or oil and vinegar. Be sure not to use the resaraunts Italian oil and vinegar, has sugar, just plain oil and vinegar.

You can go to town on good dressing. Caesar salad dressing at a good restaurant is usually a safe bet since it's not made with sugar (heard that a lot of restaurants add sugar to such as French & even Italian.) If all else fails, you can get oil & vinegar (but not balsamic vinegar.)
As far as your main course goes, I often get broiled anything (steak is a favorite) with double veggie instead of potato. I've eaten dozens of places this way with no problems at all.
Atkins is actually easier to eat out on than my old low fat plan...by a lot.
Remember, you don't have to be afraid of butter!

I have eaten at Montana's and have had the chicken salad and cobb salad. The chicken salad has mayo on the chicken part so I just asked for more mayo on the side for the salad part. The cobb salad is excellent and I asked for mayo on the side with that as well. They are both huge, and I always end up taking some home. Tell them to forget the cornbread. Swiss Chalet chicken I have had and a small amount of the dipping sauce. Their cabbage salad doesn't have sugar in it according to them. You can check their menu out at www.swisschalet.com, the nutritionals are posted there.

Thanks everyone for all the information.

I guess now I don't have to be so afraid of eating out.

I played it safe. We went to Swiss Chalet. I had a quarter white chicken and salad. Brought my own dressing. I asked the waitress about the blue cheese dressing and she said the bottle said sugar and corn syrup on it but it was really far down on the list. So, I was glad I brought my own.

Thanks for the website on Swiss Chalet I was just looking at it now, that I am home and will bookmark it for future use.

We do have a Montana's around will have to go try out their and try the cobb salad sometime..it sounds good.

Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate it.

Kathy