If you’re a bit of a foodie, then you probably love eating out and so many of us think that when we’re trying to lose weight, dining at restaurants is off the cards but that doesn’t have to be the case if you choose where you eat wisely!
We’ve created the ultimate guide to eating out when on a diet, including where to go and even what to order, so if you’re looking to book a table somewhere nice for a bite to eat, here are your best options:
Pizza Express
High-street Italian restaurant, Pizza Express, is not only one of the most accessible restaurants with one in pretty much every town and city, but their options for dieters are great too!
The Leggera menu is full of light options for those watching their weight, offering a range of mains under 600 calories, including the Peperonata pasta and the famous leggera pizzas (a ring of thin and crispy pizza with salad in the centre) as well as plenty of low calorie desserts too including sorbet for just 210 calories!
Pizza Express allow you to enjoy something other than a salad without having to totally ruin your diet for the day!
Nando’s
You may be surprised to hear that this Portuguese restaurant, famous for its chicken, can actually be majorly diet-friendly. Predominantly down to the fact that chicken itself is low calorie and great for you, lots of the sides available at Nando’s are pretty healthy too, meaning you can eat here without worrying about piling on the pounds.
Unfortunately, the marinades and sauces add up the calories pretty quick but, if you plan your day in advance and save some calories, you can enjoy your chicken as hot as you like without worrying!
A Plain(ish) chicken butterfly alone is just 332 calories while upping that to medium is only 352 calories, so it is definitely still an option available to you. Their new salads can be enjoyed with or without chicken breast and these are a great new low-calorie option, with the ‘grains and greens’ salad having just 189 calories without chicken and 347 calories with medium chicken breast added!
As for sides, the saucy spinach is just 195 calories, while the broccoli is just 48 and the mixed leaf salad is only 25, so there are plenty of healthy options to accompany your chicken.
Ask Italian
Another chain Italian restaurant offering more than just salads for those on a diet, the Light range on the menu at Ask Italian allows guests to enjoy smaller portions of pasta and pizza, accompanied by a rainbow salad, all coming in at under 550 calories per dish.
The range of salads at Ask Italian are also renowned for being delicious, offering alternatives to your classic combinations without going too crazy!
Wagamama
Known for being one of your healthier options on the high street, Wagamama is famous for its ramen, katsu curry and other Asian-inspired dishes and they even have a range of lower-calorie dishes, perfect for eating out while watching your weight.
Their selection of Kokoro bowls are all under 650 calories as well as being vegan, combining a variety of cooked and raw vegetables and a vegan ‘egg’.
Their classic chicken ramen contains just 473 calories while their chilli prawn and kimchee ramen is just 516 calories. If you want to go even lower with the calorie count of your lunch, their range of salads are a great option, such as the pad thai salad which is just 349 calories.
Leon
If you’re looking for a healthier option for fast food when you’re out and about, Leon is an absolute saviour! Their slogan of ‘naturally fast food’ gives away what they’re all about and there are plenty of options on their main menu that are not only under 500 calories but also gluten-free and/or vegan too.
Enjoy gluten-free chicken nuggets, wraps, salads, burgers, their famous baked fries and their whole selection of normal, gluten-free and vegan cakes!
You can sit in with your food at Leon or take it away, so whether you’re on the go or looking to take a break for a few minutes, Leon is great for delivering great food that is perfect for your diet.
Leon’s can usually be found in cities but they also pop up at roadside service stations!
Natural Kitchen
If you’re looking for delicious and healthy food in London then Natural Kitchen comes highly recommended from near enough everyone that has ever visited!
The majority of Natural Kitchen’s lunch menu is designed to be healthy and balanced, with a huge portion of the menu being their ‘healthy salads’ which are far from your classic Caesar or niçoise. There are salad options for meat-eaters and vegetarians and if you explore the rest of the menu, there’s plenty for vegans too.
Zizzi
Another high street restaurant we find in most cities, Zizzi has a range of main meals that are under 600 calories, and not just salads. Their seriously impressive hanging skewer is made with chicken and served with herby potatoes and salad and is a lot of food for few calories.
They also have plenty of pasta options for under 600 calories, some of which are also vegan and gluten-free too! Risotto is also on the menu at Zizzi if you’re on a diet with three different varieties being suitable for those watching their weight.
So, wherever you are in the UK, if you fancy grabbing a bite to eat while you’re out and about but don’t want to ruin your diet, these restaurants have plenty of options to suit.
Have you dined anywhere that proved to be great for those watching their waistlines? We’d love to know. Let us know your restaurant recommendations by getting in touch with us on social media!
