• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

T2: Eating when out & about

  • Thread starter Thread starter paula.nolan42
  • Start Date Start Date
P

paula.nolan42

Guest
hi everyone, my question is a general query to T2's about how they manage their food when out and about. I'm talking about going to cafes or similar, where options are limited to High Calorie and/or High Catb type foods.

Thanks.

Paula
 
I went out with OH last week for lunch and managed by picking two starters and a pud:-) I had grilled Halloumi, mixed olives, (both starters) and the cheese board (no crackers and extra celery) and he was jealous.

I have also been known to go into a Cafe and just ask for a salad or just eat my sandwich filling and in desperation I have just eaten a Burger King Patty and the salad.

My secret weapon though is to keep a pack of Serano Ham and a net of Babybell cheese with me so that if I am ever in a situation of carb hell I can still eat with no worry.
 
Tough one Paula, at cafes that just have cakes I have to rely on willpower

However if you are out for a meal, lunch or dinner, I find it easier. I always explain I'm diabetic so can't eat carbs - most places will then changes things out for free, they don't see you as a 'fussy eater'.

So I'll have pate, but ask for a small salad instead of bread. Similar with a steak and chips, I'll ask for vegetables. Many places have cheese as an option for dessert.

Good suggestion from @Lindy1706 - I have a few low carb snacks in the car for emergency measures!
 
Lindy1706 said:
I went out with OH last week for lunch and managed by picking two starters and a pud:-) I had grilled Halloumi, mixed olives, (both starters) and the cheese board (no crackers and extra celery) and he was jealous.

I have also been known to go into a Cafe and just ask for a salad or just eat my sandwich filling and in desperation I have just eaten a Burger King Patty and the salad.

My secret weapon though is to keep a pack of Serano Ham and a net of Babybell cheese with me so that if I am ever in a situation of carb hell I can still eat with no worry.
Click to expand...

Why was he jealous?
Did you make him wait outside :)
 
I have eaten out quite a lot over last few weeks (school holidays, Easter and birthdays).

I do try to plan ahead in that I look at menus online so I know in advance which restaurants are better than others, I also have to take into account whats on the kids menus and that fact that I am also a veggie.

Many places have salads or as others have said I ask for swaps or just don't eat the bread/carb stuff (kids eat the buns etc).

We have a number of 'regular' places that we know we can all have something nice to eat such as Prezzo (i have salad), Harvester (staff have really good knowledge for swapping carb options - lots of choice for low carb and cheap food), nandos, giraffe etc (I rarely eat out in non-family friendly places!)

In terms of local/independent cafes, again I know of a few near us and in the two cities we visit regularly but occasionally we visit other areas and it can be very difficult (if I ate meat I would order meat/fish salad or a quiche and scoop it out of pastry shell) last week ONLY veggie option was a soup served with two enormous pieces of bread (kids ate the bread after eating their own lunch :rolleyes:).

Sometimes I order a few starters/side dishes to make up a meal, most cafes are happy you are spending money so don't really care if you order strange combinations. I try my best but sometimes its not perfect.

We often have picnics (usually in the car as its too cold in UK in summer :D ) I will have a salad or buy cheese, olives and quiche (scoop filling out of pastry).

On days out I will take snacks for me and the kids (nuts, olives, cheese for me) to tide us over if we can't find a cafe that serves what we want.
 
Hi. It's not easy! After a while you get to know the sorts of places that offer low-carb foods as well as those stuffed with carbs. If you can find somewhere that offers meat or fish for example and salad or small portions of chips then you're getting somewhere. Places that offer a salad bar such as Harvester we use a lot.
 
The places who don't have suitable food don't deserve my patronage, it is that simple. Have supplies handy if you are unsure what is available, lots of suggestions above. I will say, after a couple of weeks of low carbing I couldn't face another Babybel cheese.:yuck:
 
I found that Pret-a-Manger offers some good low-carb options, if that is the type of location you mean. The carb contents are even written on the shelves!
 
I remember a couple of posts from a few weeks ago that had nutritional info which was lowish carb (might not be to your taste) I haven't been so can't comment on quality etc

Subway do salad bowls - served in bowl instead of bread

KFC do some lowish carb options if you avoid the fries etc
 
Hello I too carry baby bel cheeses but also , especially when travelling, I carry a primal pantry Paleo bar.
 
Thanks all for your great replies... I think that restaurants, Harvestors or Pub grub places are easier to deal with when having a full meal. I was more thinking along the lines of Cafes, Costa, Starbucks that sort of place where the options are very limited and it's just a snack more than a meal.

But I'm loving the tips you've all offered... Thank you :)
 
paula.nolan42 said:
Thanks all for your great replies... I think that restaurants, Harvestors or Pub grub places are easier to deal with when having a full meal. I was more thinking along the lines of Cafes, Costa, Starbucks that sort of place where the options are very limited and it's just a snack more than a meal.

But I'm loving the tips you've all offered... Thank you :)
Click to expand...
Sadly, most coffee shops only sell high carb stuff which means I never buy food in them - just the coffee. Their loss and my gain.
 
paula.nolan42 said:
Thanks all for your great replies... I think that restaurants, Harvestors or Pub grub places are easier to deal with when having a full meal. I was more thinking along the lines of Cafes, Costa, Starbucks that sort of place where the options are very limited and it's just a snack more than a meal.

But I'm loving the tips you've all offered... Thank you :)
Click to expand...


Costas and Starbucks generally only have VERY high carb stuff for snacks so don't normally eat in them (though starbucks do have salads). Starbucks and costa have nutrition values online so could have a quick look if tempted (would soon put you off !)

For a snack in coffee shops I take nuts in my bag :happy: however some (Costa are franchise) do kids lunch boxes where you can choose 5 items, individual cheese is sometimes included so if needed i get one box between me and kids and I have the cheese :)

M&S cafes sell the cheese individually 50p (they also do a meat bolagnaise thing with veggie 'noodles" as a good lower carb alternative)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
paula.nolan42 said:
Thanks all for your great replies... I think that restaurants, Harvestors or Pub grub places are easier to deal with when having a full meal. I was more thinking along the lines of Cafes, Costa, Starbucks that sort of place where the options are very limited and it's just a snack more than a meal.

But I'm loving the tips you've all offered... Thank you :)
Click to expand...

Hm, I never eat in these cafes anymore. When I am at Costa or Starbucks I ask for an Americano with pouring cream (not always a straightforward request). They fill me up too, at least for a little while.
 
I met up with a friend of mine in Cafe Nero, and as it turns out they do little bags of nuts and they do cream in a little jug on the side of your coffee - perfect - I feel like I made good choices when I could easily have succumbed to the Choc Muffin
 
Back
Top