I was speaking with a client today and I was reminded how I think of menus and how different it is compared to how most people think of menus. If you think of a menu like a Lifestyler it’ll make ordering at a restaurant a whole lot easier and less stressful.
Most of us don’t spend the majority of our restaurant time in five-star places where we need an interpreter just to read it. Most of us eat in simple places, nationwide-chains, family diners, and joints that have several DOZEN choices on the menu. Sometimes even my own eyes glaze over as I try and sift and sort through the muck that is the restaurant trying to literally offer a taste of everything known to man to try and please every patron. More food choices on a menu doesn’t make the task of ordering necessarily easier–it can and oftentimes makes it a lot more confusing. But not if you think of the food groupings on any restaurant’s menu as a suggestion and not a directive on what must be ordered together.
Most restaurants I’m talking about in this piece will offer a grilled chicken breast of some kind. We really don’t care what they offer it with. Just look for it. If you find it? You’re home free because you don’t have to have it with whatever they are grouping it with.
Most restaurants offer some kind of seasonal fresh fruit or canned fruit. It may or may not be a side item. Doesn’t matter. If it’s on the menu with ANYTHING it can become a side item. And if you have to go with a canned fruit that has been sitting in heavy syrup not it’s not great but you could do a WHOLE lot worse so let it go for today’s example.
Most restaurants offer some kind of salad bar or at least a side/dinner salad. I think of salads as a great way to get some veggies (beyond lettuce and tomatoes) and a place to put my protein (i.e., the grilled chicken breast). Ask for fat-free dressing but unless you’ve researched the restaurant online ahead of time or they bring the dressing to you in a packet with a label you can almost expect the “fat free” dressing will instead be “low fat” which means it’s still probably 80% fat. So what I do is either go with JUST balsamic vinegar (no oil) or I go with the fat-free dressing that came in a packet I open and can evaluate because of its label.
Okay, to keep this article short and sweet here’s what I mean by looking at a menu only as a suggestion and not a directive. Let’s assume we want grilled chicken breast, on a nice mix of greens and at least 2-3 other colorful veggies on it, with a fat-free dressing and also some fruit–as close to fresh as possible.
This is where it gets hairy for most people. On the menu is a grilled chicken breast sandwich with mayo, lettuce and tomato served with chips and a pickle spear. Also on the menu under “side items” is seasonal fruit. Also on the menu is this salad
A bed of crisp romaine lettuce tossed in our garlic Caesar dressing. Topped with challah croutons and shaved Parmesan cheese.
AND THIS
Jack-cheddar cheese, tomatoes and eggs rest on fresh salad greens. Served with Dijon honey mustard dressing.
AND THIS
Tender spinach, crisp bacon, roasted red peppers, red onions, toasted almonds and hot bacon vinaigrette—all topped with succulent shrimp.
AND THIS
Fresh mix of greens, crisp Granny Smith apples, crumbled bleu cheese and sweet candied walnuts. Tossed in our tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
AND THIS
A bed of greens, tortilla strips, cheese, homemade pico de gallo, and Mexi-ranch dressing. Topped with guacamole and sour cream.
Whoa! Now you’re probably remembering how the eyes glaze over when you look at a menu and try and get something healthy ordered.
The reality of this is it’s easy and you’ll have to decide what you personally want more for your veggies and protein-placeholder.
But when it’s time to order, if NONE of these salads come with chicken breast now’s when it’s time to remember “suggestion, not directive.”
Tell the waiter/tress you want one of the salads above minus any cheese, bacon, croutons, tortilla strips, guacamole, sour cream or dressing. You basically want veggies and MAYBE A FEW of the almonds or walnuts (but I’ll be asking those to be taken off too). Then tell him or her to add grilled chicken breast. You know they have it. They offer a grilled-chicken breast sandwich. Then have the seasonal/fresh/canned fruit if you’d like or skip the fruit at this meal. Ask for the fat-free dressing in a packet or go with just vinegar.
This is just one of many ways to rethink a menu. The bottom line here is if you see a healthy food on the menu being positioned with something else you don’t want don’t be afraid to ask for that food with some other food they have mixed with something else. Mix and match until you get what you really want. You are spending good money and most restaurants in this depressing recession are darn glad to see you when you come in. And if they aren’t? They won’t be around long–not in this economy. Never be afraid to speak up. The foods grouped with each other are only suggestions–not directives.
In health,
David Greenwalt
http://www.LeannessLifestyle.com
