Five for Friday - Eating on the Go

29 JUN

One big excuse that people often use for not following a diet or losing weight is that they have to eat out a lot, or they use this as a justification for cheating on their diet. This doesn't need to be the case though.

No matter where you are, you can find something healthy to eat, and even if it may not be the perfect meal for your goals, chances are you can get pretty close.

Don't believe me? Read on to see my Top 5 High Street Chains for Healthy Eating

1. Subway

http://subway.co.uk/default.aspx

I'll confess - I'm a Subway nut. 

There's a fair few of them dotted around near me, and close to a lot of my client training locations. On days where I'm out of the house all day, you'll often find me in a Subway around lunchtime, tucking into a double meat salad. 

As far as fast food goes, Subway's probably the best. Your perfect choice is a salad (load up on everything and ask for extra too - it doesn't cost any more) and choose chicken, turkey, ham or beef. I'd recommend paying a bit more and getting double meat if you can. As for dressings, the ranch, light mayo, hot chilli, and deli mustard aren't too bad.

If you're bulking, or eating around training times, then go for a sub instead - use those carbs for muscle growth and recovery.

2. Yo Sushi

http://www.yosushi.com/

 

Yo was named best high street restaurant chain in 2011.

Although sushi may not be everyone's cup of tea, health-wise you can't knock it. Avoid rice-heavy dishes, and stick with fish/veg instead. While not the cheapest option, it's slightly more exotic and upmarket than the other restaurants here, so might be a better bet if you're on a business lunch, or not wanting to slum it.

3. Harvester 

http://www.harvester.co.uk/

 

More of a sit down meal this one, but Harvester has a lot of different food on offer. Obviously you don't want to be tempted by the thousand calorie plus giant platters and combos, but the way the menu now works - where you pick your main, then add a side, sauce, and salad, allows for a massive variation of healthy meals. 

I'd presonally recommend the red snapper (with green beans, salsa and unlimited salad bar,) but any combo of steak, chicken or fish, with vegetable-based sides, or rice or potatoes for you carb lovers, along with some low sugar, non-creamy sauce is a decent meal. 

The fact that unlimited trips to the salad bar is included with every meain meal at no extra cost makes Harvester a pretty awesome choice. Watch the hidden calories here though. They have calorie labels on their dressings now, which makes it easier to decide what you're having, but even the lighter versions of sauces are pretty high-calorie, so you're best off sticking to green and brightly coloured salad options, and vinaigrette dressings, avoiding croutons, bacon bits, and mayo.

4. Nando's

http://www.nandos.co.uk/

Nando's is pretty pricey for what it is, considering it's not exactly La Gavroche, but it's pretty tasty, and you can't go wrong with chicken. The sides are pretty healthy too - sweet potatoes, corn, peas, ratatouille, olives, salads, etc. Plus you can vary it with different herbs and spices, dressings, and so on.

5. McDonalds

http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome.html

I wanted to include McDonalds for two reasons. Firstly to show that wherever you eat, you can find something reasonably healthy, and secondly, I know that some people would see a trip to Chernobyl as less hazardous to their health than a visit to the local Maccy D's, so wanted to put any fears to rest.

The choice at McDonalds is pretty simple - go for a salad. Preferably one where the chicken's not been coated, and that doesn;t come with a creamy dressing. If you're still peckish, they do bags of carrot sticks and fruit too. Yes, they're slightly naff, but they're better than fries.

Alternatively, buy a couple of burger, and toss the buns.

Now you've got no excuses for eating rubbish when you're out. Most towns and cities will have at least one, if not all of the above, so stay disciplined, and watch your progress move at speed, without having to be a social hermit when your friends are off out for a meal.