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It’s no secret that we don’t always have enough time to meal prep a healthy lunch or dinner every single day. Luckily, that’s where takeout and food delivery services come in handy. Let’s face it, food ordering apps have made it a little too easy to get a quick meal in a pinch.
While having a delicious meal delivered to your door or quickly picked up at a restaurant is amazing in itself, it doesn’t always prove to be the healthiest option for you when you are careless about what you order. You don’t have much control over how your restaurant meals are prepared so it’s important to be mindful of what you’re ordering.
Have no fear, there’s no need to rule out takeout when you’re trying to lose weight though. There are tips and tricks you can follow to make sure you stay on track towards your weight loss goals. Thankfully, experts are able to provide some much-needed guidance on all the healthy, and not so healthy, menu options so that indulging in a restaurant meal can be guilt-free. In fact, we’ve narrowed down one type of takeout meal you should never order because it slows down your metabolism.
One key point is to stay away from excess carbs that can be found in many restaurant sandwiches, pastas, and pizzas. In an interview with Eat This, Not That!, registered dietitian Rachel Paul says a lower carb approach is best when ordering takeout.
“Since I find the science behind a lower carb approach to be most compelling, I recommend choosing lower carb options when eating out,” Paul says. “You’ll still be very full since the food (is likely) cooked in more fat and is higher in calories.”
It’s a good rule of thumb to take more than just calories into consideration when ordering food too. In an interview with TODAY, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian explains why being careful with choosing your order beyond calories is important for a healthy diet.
“The problem is when people just look at the calories and try to make a decision, they could be led astray,” Mozaffarian said. “It’s always better to eat 1,000 calories of healthy food -- rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, fish and healthy oils -- than to eat 800 calories of unhealthy food rich in starch, sugar and salt.”
Following such tips can make ordering takeout a breeze. Remember, try to stick to healthy options and don’t fall into the temptation of calorie-loaded refined carbs. It’s okay to skip cooking dinner yourself every now and then when you are smart about the alternative option.
What are some of your favorite healthy takeout meals? Let us know your go-to quick eats in the comments below!
