Ready for Italian! Try Cicchetti's in the Forum. Officially and affectionally known by the folks who frequent there as the "OC".  This has got to be one of my top five favorite local restaurants. Locally owned and operated Cicchetti's menu is great. Of all the folks that I know that eat at Cicchetti's, no one has had a bad meal here. 

And no, you don't just have to order pasta! Italian doesn't have to be just red sauce, pizza and pasta. Their menu always sports great seafood selections and their soups are fabulous. But my current favorite of all favorites....the Chicken Franchaise. And the appetizer white bean dip, oh...makes my heart skip a beat! 

The Chicken Franchaise is sauted in a little olive oil, and it does have a little flour, but it's egg battered and topped with a lemon sauce (which is basically lemon juice). It comes with spinach, but I substitute it for...you guessed it, green beans. And the white bean dip...got to have those healthy carbs...is out of this world fabulous.  

When I first started eating at Cicchetti's, I used to order the pesto chicken pizza, but I ended up taking off all the topping and eating only one slice of pizza bread or ordering another pizza with a side of grilled chicken. Then one day, after a conversation with the server, I discovered that the chicken they use on the pizza is the Chicken Franchaise...so I now order that instead. I don't even miss the pizza bread.

OK...so you miss the cheese, just ask for a spoonful of parmesan on the side.

Their pizza bread is handmade and very thin like a cracker, as a matter of fact they serve it as a "cracker" in thier bread presentation. The "cracker" also comes with the White Bean dip, so I get a little taste of it when I eat the bean dip. Yes, you can, remember everything in moderation. 

Once while dinning with a friend, we tried the white bean dip and need I say more, I fell in LOVE with it. For me, the white bean dip is worth giving up the bread they bring before the meal.  If your tempted to eat it first, just ask them to serve it with dinner...or order that white bean dip...with your meal.

The white beans are perfect for healthy carbs and the portions for this and the entree are gracious enough for two meals, serve with two chicken breast.  

Cicchetti's soups change everyday.  Last winter my favorite was the Lemon Chicken Orzo. Orzo is the pasta that looks like rice. This soup is really lemony and you get chicken as well, however, I sometimes order a side a chicken or other protein if the protein portion is small. Remember, the orzo has been hanging out in the soup liquid for a while now, and its absorbed all it can hold, so you don't have to worry so much about further swelling, just take it slow, make sure you eat the chicken and your set. 

I have ordered other selections at Cicchett's such as fish, meatballs, and other chicken dishes. There's always a way to eat at your favorite restaurant, just get creative, ask questions and find something that works for you...

So...if you're looking for great Italian...visit the Osteria Cicchetti over in the Forum...yes, you can...you have many more meals to go!

Your fast food days are not over, just the menu choices have changed.  

My fast foods days are few and far between, (with one exception: Moe's) but that doesn't mean I can't eat there especially if I make wise choices. Do I always make the right choice?Ah... no. I sometime kick myself later...

On occasion, I can identify with that commercial...I could have had a ...V8. Why did I make that choice when I could have chosen....

So, what if we find ourselves with fast food fare...what then?

When traveling sometimes it's not so much a choice but a must.

I'm thankful that there are healthy choices at fast food restaurants these days, you just have to make that resolve not to be tempted with the wrong one. 

KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL FAST FOOD EATING

• Make the resolve long before your faced with dilemma, you want to make a practical decision based on wisdom not an emotional one in the heat of the moment. 
• Sticking to the lean meats, whole foods, and avoiding fried items.  There are some fast food establishments now that offer a wider variety of healthier choices. 
• Make fast food fare an occasion and get back on track as soon as possible.

Here are a list of better choices when visiting fast food.

• grilled chicken
• fruit
• veggies and salads, watch the dressings or use low calorie, lemon or pack your own
• chili 
• soups, (watch out for the "creamy" varieties and choose protein and veggie ingredients)
• lean deli meats such as turkey, ham and cheese, (avoid lots of bacon, limit to one piece) 
• roast beef 
• taco meats and beans
• limit the breads
• hamburger
• avoid fried foods, sauces, condiments and gravy 

Hamburger is at the bottom of the list for a reason.  It's not that we can't eat them, but there are other choices that are better.  If hamburger is my choice, I compensate by making a few adjustments. I take off the bread or eat a very small portion of bread. I also leave off the cheese, mayo and ketchup and eat the tomato, onion, pickles and lettuce. You can substitute mustard for mayo, or get an individual serving of ketchup, so you can control your portion size. 

A word about the cheese...I usually eat cheese with lean meats such as turkey, ham, or even roast beef, but usually not with hamburger.  I personally feel that eating more hamburger offers me more protein and will hold me longer than adding cheese or other fats such as bacon or mayo.  Spending calories is a lot like spending money, where can you get the most for your buck.  

I probably eat at Moe's Southwestern Grill more than anywhere else when it's "fast food".  At Moe's I can get 1/2 taco meat and 1/2 chicken, add a little cheese and black beans.  I usually choose the chips, (personal preference) which I can control the portion instead of rice, wraps or shells. Tortilla chips have 1.2 grams of carbs per chip. So if I eat 5 pieces that is 6 carbs and 3l calories verses a 6" flour wrap with 15 carbs and 95 calories.   

I sometimes select fried chicken, at Smithfields, but I make sure I remove all the skin...I know, I know...that's the best part... this is where I have to do a little self-talk...reminding myself of my goals and remembering what the consequences are for eating it...extra calories, greasy fat that goes directly to my thighs, additional hidden carbs that could drop my blood sugar, higher cholesterol, an unsettled tummy, a few hours of nausea, feeling like I swallowed a brick, severe stomach cramps and explosive diarrhea, ah...no thanks. Not so appetizing anymore!

One good idea is the familiarize yourself with our options.  Most every restaurant has nutritional information on-line now. So do your homework ahead of time and play it safe.  

When eating out fast food, usually it's just one meal, so you can compensate by making the other meals of the day the best and healthiest choice possible.  

Life sometimes throws us a curve ball, we can't and won't always be 100% on-point with our food options, but the key is to get back on track as soon as possible.  Once you establish good habits you don't have to "sweat" the one-in-a-while stuff.  You're not going to become overweight with one indulge, it's what becomes the routine that is important.   

OH, NO, the dreaded buffet!

Bet you thought you couldn't eat at a buffet anymore after weight loss surgery. 

Afraid someone will see you there?

No fear! With a few tips of preparation, you'll have a clear conscience.

You can still enjoy the buffet, but come away with a happy tummy, a guilt-free conscience and a friendly hello to your neighbor.  

Now, think about it.  The advantage is you can control your portions and get more variety than ordering off the menu. So with just a little know how, you can manage just fine...I believe in you.

Here's are the tips:

Decide what you really want. Narrow it down to the healthy choices or just a taste of something you don't get often, just remember the size of 3 oz of protein looks like a deck of cards.

Next, veggies...yum.

Then, choose a carbohydrate, remember your measurements.

Fill up on the healthy stuff and you won't have room for the dessert.

I give myself a good self-talk before going to a buffet. I determine to keep within my guidelines. Only one trip to the bar.  I tell myself, the desserts are tempting and pretty, but most of the time, they really aren't that good.  If you must, just get a taste, or have someone else get it and have them "own" it...I would never eat more than a taste of someone else's! 

I don't visit the buffet often, and only when I feel I'm strong enough in my resolve to eat correctly. Attitude is everything! Don't wait until you're in the heat of the moment to make the resolve, do it ahead of time when the decision is practical and not emotional.

I focus on being thankful that my favorite buffet has really good turkey...really tender, I love it.  It is served in gravy, but it's really thin gravy and not thick and floury, and I get several choices of veggies that I wouldn't necessarily cook at home.  

I don't even think about the desserts...I try to think about how great I feel in the clothes I'm wearing or perhaps how much better I'll feel when I'm at the pool. I remember how exciting it was to get a good cholesterol report. I remember my choices, I am "choosing" not to eat it, not that I can't have it.

I sometimes eat lunch with friends at a local healthy food store with a buffet. Health food stores have good buffets because there are healthier choices and most don't have rich desserts. Our local stores have greens that are fantastic, and lots of grilled veggies choices.  For protein it's usually shrimp (or I order grilled chicken from the grill) and fruit fills the bill for the sweets.  One health food grocery buffet has tofu turkey, it's really good! 

Oh, and about the neighbor, let that encounter work in your favor, keeping you on the straight and narrow. 

Be strong...yes you can...you have many more miles to go!

If you have ever been to Moe's, you know this familiar greeting! Welcome to Moe's! One of my favorite places to eat lunch out is Moe's Southwest Grill. And for my two year old grandson, this greeting bring a smile every time. He has adopted "our" table and if we don't get to sit at it, there are tears! 

Another thing that brings a smile is that I have discovered a menu item that is under 300 calories, and the best part is I can always count on my blood sugar remaining stable until my mid afternoon meal. The key to success...plenty of protein and beans and just the right amount of carbs! I love beans...almost as much as I love fish!   well....almost!

My "fun-ky" food choice at Moe's is: The Funkmiester-streaker!  Yep!

The Funkmiester is a taco...and on occasion, I have it regular (with the shell), but my favorite is to order the streaker or naked, which means it comes without the hard shell. Every meal comes with tortilla chips...so I get to control how many I eat.  

Now, I can NOT eat the tortilla chips by themselves, or before the meal, but a few along with the protein and beans works out great for me...the key is to keep the portion small.

The great thing about Moe's is that it is served cafeteria style and you get to choose your own toppings. I get my Funkmieser in a bowl, no rice, add black beans, 1/2 grilled chicken and 1/2 taco meat.  (ordering 1/2 and 1/2 cuts the calories, the taco meat keeps it moist and the 1/2 and 1/2 keeps it cheaper because they only charge for one meat choice! It's the perfect portion size for me!

I top that off with a few tomatoes, got to have a few jalapeno peppers, sometimes a few cucumbers slices, a little cheese and about 1 tablespoon of sour cream (on the side) to cool down the peppers. I can eat anywhere from about 4 to 8 tortilla chips to keep in my carb range and  that's it, lunch!

This keeps my carbs for the beans and chips around 15 to 19 and calories around 230.  Although I don't count calories per se, but I do like to make sure I stay within a certain range. (If you're counting carbs closely don't forget that tomatoes have a few, so I have to adjust the amount of chips I eat when I get tomatoes.)

In an earlier "Restaurant Rescue" post about Moe's, I shared about the naked burrito, I get the child size Mr. Moo, with no flour wrapper. I get the same ingredients and small portions with The Funkmieser, the only difference is the shell, which I don't get anyway, only The Funkmiester is  a little cheaper.  That's always good!

I remember when I first started to eat real food, a bariatric friend told me that tacos were a good choice, so tacos are a good choice for new patients adding real food as well.  So the next time your out and about and need lunch, "Welcome to Moe's"! Yes we can, we have many more meals to go!

One of my favorite menu items at Bonefish Grill is the appetizer, Saucy Shrimp.    

I usually order it with a side of green beans, which is another great reason I choose Bonefish Grill...green beans.  Word has it that green beans are the number one veggie...so why don't more restaurants serve them?

One reason I liked this recipe is because  the sun-dried tomatoes together with the side of green beans has just the right amount of carbs for me!

I love sun-dried tomatoes...and yes these items even though veggies have carbs...actually I think tomatoes are considered a fruit! 

I posted the recipe under the recipe section.  

Yum...