by Lauren » January 26th, 2007, 11:27 am
Hey, Beth-
Don't overthink it or the menu. Just ask for grilled chicken with steamed veggies (or grilled veggies, very dry). If they tell you that it has to be off the menu, tell them whichever dish looks closest to getting that, but then tell them no sauce, no rice, no fries, etc. Basically, what I order in restaurants has pretty much nothing to do with their menu. I look at the menus, to see if anything fits, but if it doesn't, I create my own dish.
The key here is that the calories and fat are in all the sauces, oils, sides, and extras. The actual items, whether it's fish, chicken, shrimp, and then the veggies, are all good, it's how they cook them. I assume JD chicken means Jack Daniels? Skip it lady. You can order it, but tell them to leave off the JD and grill the chicken as dry as possible.
Or, you can get a salad with grilled chicken and/or shrimp in it - but make sure to say NO CHEESE, dressing on the side, and make sure they don't have croutons and other various "throw ins," which turn a salad into a dieting disaster.
Go simple, Beth. Tell the waiter (in a cute eyelash batting way) that you're going to be slightly annoying, but promise that you'll HUGELY appreciate his/her help, and then smile! Do not assume that the meal will be appropriately made unless you ask for it. And then it will!
Fridays should be fine to accomodate you, you will not be the first, I assure you!
Have fun!
Lauren