Menu Hacks & Pro-tips
to Maximize Your Macros Eating Out

Eating out is a huge part of life. It’s social, it’s fun and it’s more convenient at times. One huge benefit to dieting flexibly is the ability to go out to eat and still stay on track with your goals. You can always make the restaurant work if you study up a bit on what they offer and work it to your advantage. When you have the leniency in diet & macros to do so, embrace the ability to try new restaurants with friends & family.

The Restaurant Guide lists out all the most macro-friendly options at most any restaurant that you can think of. The guide was designed to assist you anytime you’re eating at a chain restaurant so that you don’t waste one extra moment looking up food and get straight the point - what’s the best macro for your buck?

There are a few super helpful tips that help us macro-counters to save fat, carbs and double up on the protein so we're not living on whey protein shakes the rest of the day after eating out. After all you're probably not willing to cash in 12g of fat for grilled chicken cooked in oil (because that fat could be used for 2 whole tbsp of peanut butter later, let’s be real) and maybe you don’t want to spend 40g of carbs on sweet potato. What ways can you reduce the fat and carbs in your meal, and maybe even increase protein while eating out? Let's dig into them!

• Ask for the protein cooked without oil.
• Stick to low carbs sides like steamed veggies.
• Opt out of the cheese - it’s very unlikely they use low fat cheese in the dish. Play it safe & skip it if you’re not willing to track upwards of 10g fat per slice.
• Any extras will likely add more calories than you’re willing to spend. Foods like bacon, guacamole or avocado, spreads, glazes, drizzles, sauces, etc. will be calorically dense. Skip them if you don’t want to spend the macros on it.
• Get the sandwich lettuce-wrapped and skip the bread. That saves a 20-50g carbs, easily. Alternatively, as for the sandwich to be bunless and on a bed of lettuce.
• Ask for the protein cooked broiled, grilled or baked (no bread crumbs, cheese, oil, please) and lemon, salt and pepper on the side for extra flavor
• For dressings, dip, don’t pour. Ask for it on the side. Dip your fork into the dressing, then load up your fork with the salad-goodness. Bonus: you’ll taste the dressing even more this way and save a ton of calories. Plus, you’ll be in control of how much dressing you use.
• Some great dressing-like options are salsa, balsamic vinegar, lemon wedges, salt & pepper, and marinara sauce.
• When it’s time for dessert, as for a side of fruit and a cup of coffee or tea.
• Look for the meal that offers the most protein and work with it. If that’s a chicken sandwich, as for it bunless, dressing on the side and extra veggies. Boom.
• Plan a fun macro-friendly dessert to have at home. Have your protein ice cream already made in the freezer, or the batter for protein fudgy brownie mixed up. Just knowing that you have a treat at home takes away the temptation of having dessert out.