Eating out guide

Whether it’s for a special celebration or a quick pit-stop after work, these tips will help you feel comfortable in any restaurant.

1. Use your ZeroPoint foods to plan ahead

If you want to order your favourite pasta or steak dish, base your meals and snacks around your ZeroPoint® foods earlier in the day. This will help manage your Budget, and mean you’ve got more Points® up your sleeve for your restaurant meal.

2. Before you go, look up the menu online

Look for meals that feature ZeroPoint foods for a lower Points option. Order first so you won’t be swayed by what others order.

3. Use your weekly Points and your Rollovers

They give you more flexibility. Try to track the best you can – estimating is A-OK! (Tracking before you go helps you stick to your Budget.)

4. Understand the lingo

Smothered, rich, au gratin, glazed and creamy usually indicate higher Points values. Flame-grilled, poached, smoked, baked and grilled tend to be lower in Points values.

5. Don’t be shy about special requests

Ask to swap chips for a salad with your main course or vegetables with balsamic vinegar instead of in butter. (Unless, of course, you want them – in which case, track and enjoy!)

6. Resign from the clean plate club

There’s no prize for finishing your food. Stop when you’re satisfied, not when you’re stuffed (ask for a container for leftovers). Put your napkin on your plate to signal you’re finished.

7. Be salad savvy

Creamy dressings, croutons, bacon and cheese are flavoursome but can be high in Points; a little goes a long way. Ask for them on the side so you can add as little or as much as you want.

8. Enjoy yourself

That’s most important! If you want it, and it’s worth it to you, get it and love every bite! And if you go over, it’s OK. It’s what you do next that matters most.

WeightWatchers gives you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy all the foods you love. Which would you choose?

At the coffee shop

• Think of specialty coffee drinks as dessert. Those fancy flavoured, cream-topped drinks can cost you more Points than a slice of cake!

• Skip sugar – go for a sweetener instead, or half the sugar if you need it. Go without if you like it all the same.

• Choose skim-milk options over full cream.

At an Indian restaurant

• Tandoori dishes are often a healthier choice as they are grilled not fried.

• Don’t skip past the vegetarian options– they can be a lower Points choice.

• Go hot and spicy – vindaloo or madras if you can handle it – you’ll find you're less likely to overeat.

At an Italian restaurant

• Salads are a good choice as they are usually full of ZeroPoint foods. Ask for the dressing on the side that way you are in control of how much of it you eat.

• The extensive range of pasta on the menu at some restaurants can be mind-boggling. Try to opt for tomato or vegetable-based dishes (Arrabiata, Marinara, Napoletana) rather than creamy or cheesy dishes (Carbonara, Alfredo, Boscaiola).

• Many restaurants now offer two sizes of pasta – the entrée portion is often more than enough for a main course.

• Ask your friends or family to share a couple of dishes, versus ordering your own. This way, you can enjoy a little bit of pasta, salad or even a slice of pizza, and still stay within your Budget.

At an Asian restaurant

• Use chopsticks – they can help you take smaller bites and slow down your pace of eating, especially if you’re not experienced.

• Try to avoid foods that are described as crispy – they are likely to be deep-fried.

• Portion sizes can be large, so consider sharing dishes – it is part of the culture.

• Choose dishes that contain non-starchy veggies, like stir-fries or salads ,as these are likely to be lower in Points.

At the pub

• Scan the menu closely and look for options that won’t blow your Points Budget. ZeroPoint foods, for example grilled fish or chicken, can be a good place to start.

• Try an entrée size and see how you feel before ordering more food.

• Instead of snacking on chips and peanuts, fill up on a delicious wholesome salad instead.