Look, I saved half my sandwich from the restaurant last night. So it counts.
No, really, it does count. I got a sandwich and a salad, and I put half the sandwich on the side plate and asked for a box. And now it's my lunch. So I don't care if you don't think a breaded eggplant panini sandwich, with roasted red pepper and tomato and piles of spinach and herbed cheese, counts as a weight loss food. I only ate half of it at each meal and I say it counts.
The rest? About 12 ounces of brussels sprouts, with a bit of butter; and some tropical fruit cocktail (yeah, it's canned -- we never have any fresh fruit left right before the grocery trip) with Greek yogurt and a little unsweetened coconut on top.
(Sandwich by Kafe 421, where we went to celebrate the completion of our midwifery appointments surrounding Leo's birth. The kids also took half their giant "children's" entrees home and had them for lunch today.)
That was the first rule for losing weight that I learned, forgot and now need to re-implement - cutting the restaurant sized portion in half BEFORE eating and taking it home. Restaurants give you HUGE portions, not because that's the right portion size. It's to justify the high cost they need to recoup for rent, employees, electricity, etc. You FEEL like you got your money's worth if it's a HUGE portion.
Thank you for the great reminder. I did that the last time I lost 70 pounds (in 2000). We don't eat out much now. I tend to order off the kids menu if I can get away with it OR order an appetizer or just a side salad.
Posted by: Cathie B | 24 March 2010 at 05:32 PM
This reminds me of Zonya on PBS last weekend. One of her Diet Free principles is that if
you ha1f it, you can have it. I need to work on this habit!
What you write about the weight not coming off with just exercise is so true. I've been to the YMCA six mornings a week for 2 months. The scale only moved when we got a stomach virus!! There are, however, now nicely toned muscles developing in my legs and my husband says I'm much nicer to be around :)
It looks like a yummy lunch.
Posted by: Kristin | 24 March 2010 at 08:33 PM