Another reason to curb eating out

Eating out at restaurants can be fun, delicious, and SO much easier than cooking for yourself and then cleaning up the kitchen and dishes afterwards.  And, I will be honest with you, there are certain things that I just don't cook/make well, like sushi, so I always go out for it!  But, we all know the downside of going out for meals, usually things taste so delicious because usually food is laden with butter and oil and all things yummy that are horrible and clog our arteries!

A recent bit of research in the International Journal of Obesity pinpoints just how bad eating out can be for you, especially for men.  The information was gathered from over 24,000 randomly selected patients in the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition).  The EPIC study gained information from 10 nations in the European Union to determine cancer rates related to lifestyle and nutritional choices in the years 1995-2000.

What was derived from the information is that BMI's (Body Mass Index) are much higher and there can be significant weight gain from higher calorie intake, especially by men, when eating at restaurants as opposed to eating a meal brought to work or a homemade meal at home.  So, I know that this doesn't seem like rocket science BUT people really don't think about how many calories they ingest when at a restaurant...between drinks, food cooked in a different way, AND appetizers along with bigger portions than you would normally eat.

I know in the modern day we seem to be a culture of eating out because of working long hours and so much stress, but try to plan meals ahead of time, go grocery shopping with a set list and  plan of meals for the week, you will be more apt to stick to it if you already have the food that will go bad if not used. Instead of going out to dinner with friends, make meals and eat at each others homes, that way everyone can chip in and you can experience different foods. And, save going out to dinner for a truly special occasion....your wallet AND your waistline will thank you!

So, we didn't ned this study to learn anything new, but it is a good bit of knowledge to think about when making the choice whether to eat out or stay in!!

Yours in Good Health
B