Dining Out Guide

The best way to ensure you are eating the highest quality food is to make everything yourself, of course. I believe life is all about balance and enjoying everything life has to offer, so, for me, that includes dining out. I love going out to eat at restaurants and going to people’s BBQs and other social events that include food. While I do cook my own food most of the time, I also know how to make good choices when I’m eating away from home. Sometimes I will bring my own food to other people’s parties and sometimes I’ll indulge in foods I wouldn’t normally eat, but I don’t feel guilty about it because I eat great most of the time and incorporate physical activity into my life. When I’m on vacation, for example, I’m going to have my pina colada and I’m going to eat dessert every night, and pretty much whatever I want. But don’t get me wrong, I do suffer the consequences when I do that. I get digestive symptoms, weight gain, and acne, but it goes away once I’m back on my normal routine. Usually when I’m dining out, however, I try to keep my meals as paleo as possible. My dining out guide below is short and to the point. It’s easier than you think- so don’t overthink it 😉 I’ve also included my favorite places to eat when I go out.

• Order meat & veggies, seafood & veggies, or salads. You may have to sacrifice on quality a bit, since you really don’t know what’s in the food at most places, but if you stick to these options you should be fine. (I also take activated charcoal when dining out as a detoxifier)
• Salad dressings tend to be made with questionable ingredients, so it would be helpful to carry a small container of your own dressing with you and order salads without dressing.
• Think outside the box. You could ask for substitutions at most places. If you’re at a burger place, for example, order a bun-less burger with a side salad or cooked veggies instead of fries. Or if you’re at a diner, you could order bacon/sausage with eggs (be sure to ask if it’s gluten-free because some diners use flour in their eggs to make them fluffier) and ask for sauteed veggies instead of home fries (although admittedly I do eat the home fries on the rare occasion that I go to a diner).
• Bring coconut aminos with you when going out for sushi, rather than using the soy sauce.
• Click here for my What is Paleo? page to see which foods to eat and which to avoid.

 

My favorite places to go when dining out:

• Hu Kitchen: My #1 favorite restaurant in New York. Hu Kitchen is a paleo-friendly fast-casual dining establishment. Everything they sell is absolutely delicious. My favorite desserts are the Crack Bar, Maple Creme Brulee, and the Almond Butter + Puffed Quinoa chocolate bar. I had an iced coconut milk latte and it was delicious. I’ve yet to try the Crack Coffee, but it’s essentially Bulletproof coffee- so I’m sure it’s delicious. They’ve also got kombucha on tap! They’ve got tons of specials on weekdays that I’ve been dying to try- but since I don’t live in New York City, I only get there on weekends. So my go-to order is The Diesel Parker (it’s similar to lasagna in my mind). Check out their menu here.

 

• Chipotle Mexican Grill: Chipotle is now GMO-free. Chipotle is a fast-casual dining establishment. They source sustainable/organic ingredients. Try to avoid the tortillas because they contain preservatives. Some good choices are a salad or a bowl. Click here to see the menu. And here for the full ingredients list.

 

• Bareburger– They use organic, grass-fed meats & dairy. They also have some more exotic meats such as elk, bison, boar, and ostrich. They offer gluten-free buns, or you can order bun-less burgers to make it grain-free. And, their food tastes amazing. Click here for the menu.

• The Burger Spot: The Burger Spot is a gourmet casual dining establishment. They use grass-fed meats, no preservatives, no fillers, and no added colors. Their salad dressings are made with olive oil. I love going here and getting a lettuce-wrapped burger with bacon, mushrooms, avocado, and onions and a side salad! Click here for the menu.

• Iavarone Brothers– In the deli they have “Healthy Alternatives.” This is a great way to get pre-cooked healthy foods quick. I don’t believe their deli menu is available online, but on their website you can find store locations. I usually get fish or chicken with veggies, or a salad.

 

• Garden City Bistro:  They have a build-your-own salad option which is perfect for when you want a salad but don’t want to make one (use your own dressing). Their salads always taste amazing to me (is that because someone else is making it?!) Click here for the salad menu.

• Prime: Prime offers a paleo menu for quick, easy, on-the-go healthy eating. See their menu on their Facebook page by clicking here.

• Seasons 52: Seasons 52 is a beautiful fine dining restaurant (perfect for date nights) that won’t leave you feeling overly stuffed when you leave. They have many healthy options and everything is delicious. I normally get the Cedar Plank Salmon (which inspired my Cedar Plank Salmon recipe). Check out the menu here.

 

Also check out my Healthy Travel Tips post that includes restaurants in Vero Beach, Florida.

Click here for Robb Wolf’s Paleo Guides!