Choosing my meal
If I know I am going out for dinner in the evening (like tonight, with diane and E – a much awaited date!!!), I like to browse the restaurant menu online during the day, and pick my meal in advance.
I do this for several reasons:
One – it gives me time to pick the “healthiest” choices for a meal, if that is what I am in the mood for. Or, it lets me pick out a “not-so-healthy” meal choice, but gives me the entire day to eat a bit less, or even exercise a bit more (if I choose).
Two – it saves time at the restaurant, giving me more time to chat with friends. Normally, I am so excited to talk to friends at dinner, that the waitress comes back 3 or 4 times before we’ve made up our minds about what to order… or even opened the menus to take a peak!
Three – it gives me piece of mind. I have serious anxiety issues when it comes to choosing what to eat at a restaurant if I didn’t have time to research the menu or am not familiar with the place. All of these thoughts go through my head, “What did I eat today?” “Should I eat something unhealthy, or wait for a treat later in the week?” “Will I have time to work out after dinner?”
I try not to be an annoying dinner partner. And I still enjoy eating out! I just have a hard time not getting something really bad for me all the time and not clearing my plate all the time.
So, does anyone else choose meals in advance? For same or different reasons? Please don’t tell me I’m the only one!
Themocracy
I don’t always choose in advance, however I will often go with the first thing that jumps out at me because like you I’m too busy being social and really can’t multitask very well in that arena (deciding what I want to consume with catching up with friends)
personally I think looking in advance is a great idea, in addition to your friends you can look forward to dinner too
de – Exactly! If I don’t look at the menu, I often order the first thing that sounds good, and I sometimes regret it later. Sometimes, I don’t, and I am just in the mood to eat whatever. Sometimes 😉
You’re not alone–I’ve already looked at the menu for tonight. 😉 Plus, I had to find one of the lighter choices so that I have room for POPCORN!!!
I think it sounds like a great idea for when that’s practical – I’ll keep that in mind!
You and Diane are freaks!!! That’s a little too obsessive compulsive even by my standards 🙂
BTW, I usually know what I’m getting before I go to a restaurant if I’ve been there before, I get my favorite. Tonight it’s going to be some kind of spicy shrimp pasta meal at Bahama Breeze, I love this meal and I never go to BB so they better not have changed the menu! I even know what I’m drinking, I like their Long Island Iced Teas and they aren’t too strong so I’m getting a few of those.
BUT if they’re packed and we choose to go somewhere else it’s a bunch of unfamiliar restaurants in that area so I’ll have to make a choice….
Have fun tonight!
Have fun tonight! I am jealous!
I don’t pick out my food ahead of time, but if I am going somewhere I have been before, I usually get the same thing I always get there. I am not really into taking risks with not liking what I get. I’ll usually taste whatever my husband gets though.
I don’t typically choose my food before I go to a restaurant., but what a good idea! I hate going out with friends and trying to decide what to order while catching up on each other’s lives. I’m going to try your way next time 😉 Hope you have fun!
diane – Yay! I am not the only crazy one 😉
Catherine – Yeah. Sometimes, it’s definitely not practical. Then I just try to find an old staple on the menu.
Gary LaPointe – It might seem obsessive compulsive, but when you’re overweight like I am, you need to watch what you eat 😉 I have a few places where I always get the same fatty dish, because I love it.
tori – I go back and forth between trying new things and not. It depends on my mood. But I hate it when I try something new and… hate it! It ruins the meal 😉
Bethany – Try it! It does save time! Well, if everyone chooses in advance 😉
If I know where I am going I always look at the menu before hand, even if I don’t pick what I am eating….I usually have it narrowed down between 2 or 3. I like doing it because it gets me excited about going out to eat.
Felicia – Thank you. For making me sound less crazy by saying you do it too 😉 It’s just nice to know what a place has… and not feel all flustered when you get there!
Those are excellent tips! I try to do the same as I don’t want to give in to temptation when I get there and order something that looks great on the menu but will NOT look great on my hips!
elainerows – It’s so easy to give into temptation when you see a menu full of decadent choices!
I am so exactly like you! If I didn’t look at the menu online and pick what I want ahead of time, it would be an hour before I was ready to order! Partly because I’d be excited and chatting (even if it’s just Bret and me), and partly because I have a tough time making decisions. Even before I got into this healthy lifestyle, I always had to make sure I wasn’t going to regret my choice. I hate it when everyone’s order comes, and you wish you’d ordered what someone else gets! So I have to ponder all the choices that appeal, and weigh all the pros and cons. Am I going to go healthy, maybe not enjoy it quite as much during dinner, but feel happy afterwards? Or am I going for the pleasure of the moment, and if so, is this dish going to be delicious enough to be worth the consequences? Ack. No wonder Bret rarely takes me out!
SJ – Can you imagine if the two of us went to dine together, without looking at the menu first? Ha! It sounds like we would be sitting there a long time 🙂 (I wish I could get together with you, SJ 🙁 )