Four Ways To Keep Your Calorie Intake In Check When Dining At A Pizza Restaurant

If you're counting calories, your heart probably melts a little when your friends suggest dining at a pizza restaurant. "There goes all that hard word," you may think. While pizza is probably not the best food for weight loss (thanks to all of the carbs in that delicious crust and the fat in that gooey cheese) it does not have to be terrible. With these tips, you can dine at a pizza restaurant (such as Uncle Pete's Pizza) without undoing your week of low-calorie eating.

Order your pizza without cheese.

Taking the cheese off of regular pizza is a nice suggestion, but do you really think you can resist the temptation to eat that gooey goodness after you've been dieting all week? It's easier to just not have the cheese in front of you at all. Most pizza places will prepare a pizza without cheese, or with just a sprinkle of cheese, if you ask. In fact, some even have this on their menus as "old fashioned pizza." If plain sauce does not sound appealing, have some veggies, such as mushrooms or peppers, added to the top. You'll get flavor without the calories.

Fill up on salad first.

Many pizza restaurants offer salad bars, or at least a salad menu. Don't count on eating a salad along with your pizza or after it—do it first, and it will stop you from eating so much carbohydrate-laden pizza. Do be careful about what you put on your salad. Choose plenty of greens and veggies like carrots, cucumber, and onion. Steer clear of eggs, cheese, bacon, and the like. Choose a low-calorie dressing, or just top your salad with a splash of vinegar. Eat plenty of salad, and you won't feel as deprived when you eat only one or two slices of pizza.

Ask your friends not to let you share their food.

You're munching away on your salad and cheese-free pizza, when a friend offers you a slice of her sausage and bacon-topped one. After a little peer pressure, you give in—and your diet is blown. Avoid calamities like this by asking your friends, before the meal, not to share what they order with you. Explain that you're on a diet and do not want to be tempted by their foods. If they're good friends, they will understand and help you out.

Everyone needs a little indulgence once in a while. If you slip up and eat a little more than you planned when you go out for pizza, don't fret. Tomorrow is a new day, and you can get your diet back on track with healthier choices again.


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