How to Eat Healthy while Dining Out | THM Meals

Learning to put meals together for (THM)? Here are ideas to eat healthy while dining out for the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle.

What do I eat if I’m following the Trim Healthy Mama (THM) plan when I’m dining out? How do I stick to my healthy eating habits when there are so many options on the menu? Let’s see how I eat healthy while dining out…

THM = Food Freedom

I just returned from a trip to New York City with my daughter for dance. And although I did go “off-plan” and had a slice from Ray’s Famous Pizza. (Remember that from the movie Elf? So funny!) But really it’s ok that I had a slice of pizza.

The best thing about THM is food freedom. It’s all about choices. And if I chose to have an off-plan meal on vacation it doesn’t mean I’ve ruined everything. It’s ok…just start over at the next meal.

Most people discover THM as a way to lose weight. And while slimming down does happen when you eat this way, THM is not a diet. It’s a healthy lifestyle. Here’s a link for the THM Plan book that teaches you the basics.

You can read my journey of how I lost 25 lbs here. The best part? I never felt like I was on a diet I just knew I was getting healthy. And I’ve continued eating this way since 2017 because it’s just so simple.

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Making Healthy Choices in Restaurants

When I’m eating out I usually stick to S meals (low-carb, keto-friendly) as they are easier to order in a restaurant. Ordering an E meal can be tricky in a restaurant. Let’s say you order grilled chicken, brown rice, and veggies thinking you’re having an E meal but the chef cooks everything in lots of butter or oils. Well, then you may have too much fat in the meal so I just stick to S meals when dining out…So. Much. Easier.

Ideas to Order when Dining Out

Breakfast: eggs, omelets, bacon, sausage, ham, veggies, berries

Lunch/Dinner: salad, veggies, protein (chicken, burger, steak, steak…so many options)

Now let’s take a look at what I ate while in NYC…

Breakfast | Omelet and Salad

I usually have a smoothie at home for breakfast but when I’m eating out I love omelets. They are my fave because I can fill them with cheese and extra veggies, so yummy!

We ate at Sarabeth’s one morning…if you’ve never been I highly recommend it. I ordered a spinach and goat cheese omelet. The server offered me a side salad as an alternative when to the usual toast and potatoes. I’ve never had a salad with breakfast before but after this delicious meal, I may be adding one to my breakfast again soon.

Breakfast|Omelet with Fruit

omelet with grilled tomatoes and a cup of berries

The next morning during our stay in New York I got another omelet. Are you surprised? LOL But this time I ordered it with tomatoes, bacon & cheese. The side options were toast, potatoes, or fruit. When I declined the carb options the server offered me grilled tomatoes…perfect! And I asked for just berries in the fruit cup to keep my carbs low. See how easy it is to eat healthy meals while dining out.

Lunch | Burrito Bowl

My daughter loves Chipotle! Despite being in NYC with so many options for dining she really wanted her favorite restaurant for lunch. After taking dance classes from 7:30 until 12 I figured she earned it!

Chipotle is a great option for a quick meal without feeling like you’re eating fast food because you can choose exactly what you want. I like to order a burrito bowl salad with lettuce, chicken, salsa, cheese, and guacamole. I skip the rice & beans to keep my carbs low. Unsweet tea is my go-to drink because I can add my own THM sweetener.

Dinner | Salad with a Burger

How awesome are restaurants where you can build your own salad to include all of your favorite items? For dinner one night I ordered a salad with mixed greens, cucumber, tomato, avocado, shredded cheddar and I topped it with a plain burger.

Here are some more ideas for dining out while in New Orleans!

I hope you learned that you can totally eat healthy while dining out as a Trim Healthy Mama doesn’t have to be complicated. Just remember that everything on a menu is what the restaurant has in their kitchen…the meals listed are merely a suggestion. So don’t be afraid to modify your order to fit your lifestyle.