I guess I have a habit of dining out quite a bit. I really don’t feel as if I do enough, but I often hear comments in regards my habit of indulging in other people’s cuisine. Wether it be the neighborhood bar & grill, casual joint with miss matched chairs and china– where I’ve had some of the best meals without much pretentiousness– a bistro, cafe or more well-heeled restaurants, I do have a habit of eating out and often.
Another comment that usually comes my way is what a great hairline I’ve, but that really has nothing to do with my eating out. I was just putting it out there to get you to check out my picture. What does have something to do with my eating out habits is my waistline. The fact that I still have one, to be more precise. You see, I stand six feet tall (1.8 meters) tall, and about 185 lb. (84 Kg.). Not too shabby really. I could use athletic as far as to describe my shape if I were to ever place an ad to meet people on one of the popular online sites, particularly one that originated in SF, CA.
The secret is simple; work out six days a week, with a least ninety minutes of cardiovascular exercise. There you go the mystery is solved.
I’m sure this works, at least for some people, however– I work an average of sixty hours a week. Sometime more, but seldom less. In my days off I like to spend time with my daughter as well as my fiance. I like going to the movies and exploring the many dining outlets throughout the city. What I’m pointing out is the lack of time to visit the gym for an hour a day three days a week, let alone ninety minutes of cardio six days.
What I’ve learned how to do is eat, moderately. I’ve noticed in us as Americans a value driven mentality. I would like to thank the folks at the Cheesecake Factory and Buca di Beppo for this. I know the latter advertises “family style” portions, but I still believe they contribute to the over indulgence.
However, we are placing value in the wrong category. Value is not being placed in the ingredient, but rather in the amount that we get of it. We are used to heaping portions of pasta, a steak is not consider a steak under fourteen ounces, and our dessert better be at least eight layers tall. Even
- CHOCOLATE CAKE
old faithful, Starbucks, where many of my mornings begins with a cup of joe have adopted a new size, Trenta. That would be thirty ounces for those who don’t speak Starbucks or Italian. I asked one of the baristas one day if she really thought we needed that much coffee? I was told that they only apply to the cold selections, meaning teas and such. But really, who out there really needs thirty ounces of artificially sweetened beverage? Can we say more high fructose corn syrup please…? Therefore I was left learning how to eat out… moderately….
Now, by moderately, I don’t mean to imply that I eat one item on the menu and call it a day. That would not be considered dining or even trying out a restaurant, but rather feeding a primal need: hunger. Usually, dinner consists of at least three courses, wine and dessert. Now, I usually go with my fiance. We will order separate appetizer, most likely share a second course– whether it be another appetizer or a pasta, depends on the outlet– and later each order our own entrée. Usually share a bottle or two of wine with dinner. Finally dessert will hit the table, and depending on the restaurant it can be as few as two to as many as three if we are really intrigued by the menu. Dessert in not the same without a cup of coffee or cappuccino to wash it down. Sometimes we will do this twice a day. First and foremost, let me start by saying that it’s not a cheap, but it’s definitely rewarding.
The moderation comes in the amount of food consumed. While I do often try the bread, just to see what they have to offer, I really don’t waste too much time or stomach space with it. I like bread, but it fills one up quickly.
Second, unless a salad is offered as part of the dinner, I will seldom order one– specially something as mediocre as a Caesars Salad. Not that there is anything wrong with salads, but they’re seldom as healthy as one feels when indulging in one and more often than not over dressed– taking away from the flavor of the greens and vegetables that compose it. Again, this is not, more often than not, the chef’s fault, but rather the guest – whom often feel as if they know more about cooking than the trial-trained professional helming the kitchen– if for no other reason than having sat on their asses watching the last however many seasons there are of Iron Chef, Hells Kitchen, or Top Chef while eating take out, fast food or left overs. See, it turns out that most people look at the greens in a salad as a medium to consume copious amounts of dressing, and when you’re talking about Caesar Salad, specially when the dressing is made “at home”–meaning the restaurant, then you’re talking about a mayonnaise based dressing– a whole egg- full of cholesterol– dressing. I knew you’d find it as appetizing as I do.
Then, we pace ourselves. I go out to dine, not just to fill myself with food, for that I would ingest bland food that allows me to remain skinny and fit. By pacing myself I refer to taking my time to enjoy the food, savor the flavors and enjoy the complementary and contrasting notes with the wine. When you do that you tend to eat less, specially when you know there is more to come.
Additionally, I listen to my stomach! When it tells me that it’s full, then I stop! I used to have a bad habit of eating everything that was put in front of me in the plate. I excused this action by thinking about the kids around the world enduring famine. I tought of myself as ungrateful for having the opportunity to have a plate of food in front of me and not eating it. Planning solves this issue, as well as the previous steps; but ultimatley, if I’m full, I stop! Obesity is just as bad of a desease as being malnurished.
When it comes time to call it a day, I will seldomly take left overs home. They just take up space in the fridge and I’ve yet to go back once to them. This has nothing to do with keeping the waist line, but rather a small tip for most of us out there. What I’m trying to say is this. When people go out to eat they should concentrate in smaller portions, rather than morbid portions that we will not finish at the restaurant. Let’s face it, they never taste as good once re heated. So why not split a couple items at the restaurant, this way you can try more of the items in the menu. Or even better, stop harrasing a restaurant because their portions are too small. Eat first, complain later. If you get, what seems to be a small amount of pasta on your plate, eat it first. If after the fact, you still feel hungry, then maybe the kitchen is screwing up, but I doubt it!
Finally, I do exercise. Not always at the gym, but often in the day to day. The fiancé and I share a car. Her work is about two miles from mine, so at least twice a week I make the trek to her work on foot. I could very well wait for her to pick me up, but why not absorb some of the city and take a brisk walk. After all cardio is the best way to keep the waist line.
So get out there; eat less of more, enjoy the wine, indulge in dessert, take your time during dinner or lunch– my favorite days are when lunch turns to dinner– and take a walk.
JMN
Tags: coffee, courses, desset, dinner, dinning out, Las Vegas, NV, Restaurants, Sin City, wine
