The No Menu Challenge

[PhotoNut]

Monday's support group meeting at St. Al's has been "cancelled", but several of us will still be meeting at Applebees by the mall, at 5:30. Kathy J from Idaho Falls will be joining us for the first time too!

Linda was telling us about a recent experience whereby she had enjoyed what she thought was a fairly reasonable dinner selection at Applebee's. When she got home that night, she was completing her daily food journal and was shocked to find out that the BBQ chicken wings she had enjoyed were 1,545 calories and 117g of fat! She was vowing to look up her meals before going out, which prompted the idea for the No Menu Challenge. Here's how it works:

Whenever we are planning to get2gether for social lunches or dinners..

1. Research the restaurant's menu online. Monday we will be meeting at Applebee's so you can go to http://www.applebees.com to view their menu.

2. Look up the nutritional values of the meal you will order on Monday night using sites like these:
http://www.thedailyplate.com/
http://www.dietfacts.com/
http://www.calorieking.com/

3. Print out the nutritional information about the meal you plan to order, and bring it with you to the restaurant.

4. Without looking at a menu, place your pre-determined food order.

The first one there can ask that no menus be placed on the tables! We can share the nutritional information about our selections, which will give others ideas for the next time, and by planning ahead we there will be no big FAT surprises when we add up what we ate for the day!

See you at Applebees on Monday night!

[sassy46545]

I always try to look up the nutritional info for resturants where I'm going. It's extremely frustrating to find some popular resturants don't even have the nutritional info listed!...and I phone the managers and tell them. They usually tell me to leave a message with corporate...which I do. I want to make informed choices!

Tracy

[MoOrLess]

what an awesome idea -- I think this is called "mindful eating" -- two words I think over and over as I work my band! Good one Susan! [I wish I could be there - with my nutrition information in hand :) ]

[SheryBery]

Right now I'm planning on being at dinner....might be a little late. Haven't looked or picked from the menu yet but I will!

[Chisaimama]

Hi. I plan to be at Applebee's. Why do they keep canceling the meetings? I will look up my meal beforehand also. See you all there.

[PhotoNut]

This challenge was fun! You all should have seen the looks on the face of the hostess and server when we told them we did not want any menus. It was great! We all showed up knowing exactly what we had planned to order and everyone had a very delicious and healthy meal. Kudos to us!

I had done my 45 mins on the treadmill, run up stairs and showered, then headed right out the door to meet everyone for dinner. So, by the time we got there my body was demanding fuel! I was so hungry! I know that, if I would have had a menu in my hands, my hunger would have overridden my logic and I would have ordered a greasy, salty something or other. Instead, I was plenty satisfied with my yummy salad and grilled chicken.

[redgrldj]

WTG you girls rocked it.. That is a great idea.. So glad you all stuck to plan..

[MoOrLess]

woo hoo! Awesome results from the challenge! Congrats everyone on having a great gathering AND eating healthy!

P'nut - that's so true - my biggest "band" issues result from being 'over-hungry' and then I eat too fast or more or something I didn't really want to eat....pre-planning definitely is the way to go - I'll be doing that from now on when I go out to eat

[KathyJ]

This challenge was fun! You all should have seen the looks on the face of the hostess and server when we told them we did not want any menus. It was great! We all showed up knowing exactly what we had planned to order and everyone had a very delicious and healthy meal. Kudos to us!.

Hey Susan, we're back home. Had such a great dinner with all of you Boise banders. Thanks again. I used your method the next day and got on line and got Red Robin's menu and found they had a burger wrapped in lettuce, got there and ordered it, it was great and I wasn't tempted with all of the other stuff. Haven 't gotten on the scales yet and I'm trying not to focus on the scale number. I feel good about eating out for 3 whole days, making wise choices and having fun. PS~ never made it to Cascade to check on train ride. Just shopped all day Tuesday!! it was my reward for losing 50 lbs, new spring/summer clothes. Take care, and thanks again.

[PhotoNut]

Hey Kathy! I'm glad to hear you made it home safely. Hopefully the weather was much nicer on your return trip! That's so cool that you're using this No Menu method to help you when eating out. And grats on returning home feeling good about the food choices you made while on your vacation! That's awesome!

Maybe you and your hubby can come back to Boise for Band Camp in July?! It's beautiful country, we always have a great time, and we'd love to have you join us this year! :thumb:

[newlifeat57]

Hey Susan.... I did the no menu challenge.... Went to breakfast yesterday and decided to look up to see if this restaurant had their menu on line... YAY!! they did! I am not one to go out for breakfast anymore, but Since I had a chance (breakfast with friends), I decided to try this challenge. I learned 2 things....This restaurant sucks because they do not have low calorie item AT ALL....AND by researching the menu items, I took a lot of stress off me because I knew exactly what I was eating.... LOVED IT!!!!!

I've used the internet before, to find my favorite fast food places and have learned which foods are the best. So whenever I'm out and about i know where my favorite places are and I know which foods are safe for me to eat.

[AnnDe]

Good job Mel!