I am so excited to share my strategy for eating out while eating clean. Let’s define clean first. Clean eating is eating real food that has been properly prepared and is known to be nutrient dense. I have been eating this way for many years so I have had to learn through trial and error all the tricks to getting a clean meal at a restaurant and which restaurants I can trust along the way. It doesn’t seem so hard now but I can remember when I first started, it was the most daunting thing about eating out. Now I feel confident I can go into any restaurant and find something to eat. I have yet to starve.
I know not everyone will be local to me but this guide will include places I have personally eaten. I will be giving the criteria for each meal I chose at these establishments so hopefully you can translate them into any place you might visit.
Let’s dive in!
My picks for a quick, inexpensive meal are Newk’s and Chipotle. At Newk’s I love to get their Shrimp & Avocado Salad. It comes with a dozen broiled shrimp, avocado, arugula, tangy feta cheese, sweet grape tomatoes, green onions and a lemon basil vinaigrette but I use regular oil & vinegar they provide at their awesome condiments station. I like to add peperoncinos to my salad as well. Sometimes I will ask them to hold the feta but I can tolerate it on occasion.
Probably the one place I frequent the most when I need to get a quick bite to eat is Chipotle. I can trust their food is fresh, responsibly sourced and delicious. Plus, they are like Subway for the clean eater, meaning you can find one in almost any city. When I go to Chipotle I will always get a salad, hold the dressing. I add either Carnitas or Chicken, white cilantro-lime rice if I feel up to it or if I had a grueling workout that day, fajita vegetables, pico, red and green chili salsa and a side of guac. My salsas serve as my dressing. This is a favorite for sure.
I have a couple of options for a date night or a business lunch/dinner. I love the food scene in Austin so I chose it for my first pick. Continue reading “Eating Out CLEAN” →