If you are trying to manage your weight, eating out at restaurants can be a struggle. Even when you’re trying your hardest to be ‘good’, the temptation of ordering something you shouldn’t can sometimes be too great. Of course, a little bit of what you fancy can be good for you; but with many of us eating out more than once a week, how can we keep tabs on our calorie intake while enjoying ourselves too?
In the UK, one of the most popular dining-out options is Indian cuisine - us Brits love nothing more than going out for a curry. But you don’t have to give that up if you’re watching your waistline; with a few helpful tips, such as those listed below, you can enjoy delicious Indian meals out while still eating healthily. Here’s how to avoid the more fattening menu options and go for those that still taste great, but won’t undo all your hard work.
Choose a tandoori dish
‘Tandoori’refers to spiced meat dishes that are traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven, at extremely high temperatures. Less oil is used during this cooking process and, as a result, these dishes are lower in calories than some others. That doesn’t mean they aren’t tasty though; the meat is marinated overnight in yoghurt with a blend of spices, which helps the meat become tender and packed with flavour. If you’re watching your calorie intake, opt for tandoori chicken and you won’t be disappointed.
Say no to naan
We all love naan bread, but one of the reasons why it tastes so good is that it is brushed with ghee (clarified butter) before serving - adding a lot of fat and calories to your meal that you can easily do without. Instead of ordering your favourite naan, go for a portion of rice and a vegetable side dish instead - you’ll consume fewer calories and have an added nutritional hit, to boot.
Turn up the heat
Did you know that chillies are known to increase our metabolic rate, which helps our body to burn more calories? Chillies contain a chemical that boosts our body’s ability to burn fat and also helps to curb our appetite - not to mention the fact that they are an essential ingredient for making your curry taste even more delicious. So order the fieriest dish you can handle (isn’t it time you tried a Vindaloo?) and you can enjoy it guilt-free!
Choose a quality Indian restaurant
Indian food has a bad reputation for being unhealthy, but that view depends on where you choose to eat. Some high street curry houses use large amounts of oil in their cooking and select poor quality ingredients that aren’t always at their best. But if you head to one of London’s authentic fine-dining Indian restaurants, you’ll enjoy the freshest ingredients cooked to perfection by trained regional chefs. There’s also more variety on offer at these establishments, helping you to choose a balanced meal that tastes as delicious as it looks. And if you end up ordering too much - well, the diet can always wait until next week.