Articles
Diabetes nutrition: Eating out when you have diabetes
Watch the extras
Ask for what you want
Watch what you drink
Eat on time
Remember the ground rules
Content
Plan ahead
Keep portion sizes in check
Make substitutions
Extras add up
Drinks matter, too
Alcohol and diabetes
Staying on schedule
Save room for dessert
Don't forget nutrition ground rules
Movement helps, too
Keep portion sizes in check
Restaurants tend to serve large portions, possibly double what you normally eat or more. Try to eat the same size portions you would if you were eating at home by:
- Choosing the smallest meal size if the restaurant offers options: for example, a lunch-sized entree
- Sharing meals with a dining partner or two
- Requesting a take-home container
- Making a meal out of a salad or soup and an appetizer
- Eating slowly so that you'll feel full before you've eaten too much
If you're at an "all you can eat" buffet, it can be difficult to resist overeating. Even a small amount of many foods can add up to lots of calories. When you're at a buffet, the "plate" method can help. Fill up half your plate with nonstarchy vegetables, a quarter with a protein and the final quarter with a starch.
