Welcome, Duchess! You ask how I handle going out. If I have any choice in where we are going then we go to someplace where I can easily eat on plan. If I have no choice then I do my research ahead of time. For instance, I had two dinners out recently - one Italian and one Mexican - with a club. I checked the menus ahead of time (one was online, the other I had DH stop by and pick up their menu) and I researched choices. In the case of the Mexican one I was able to find something totally on plan. I made sure those sitting close to me knew that I was watching what I eat and that I wanted to avoid the chip basket. I placed it next to them.
In the case of the Italian restaurant (which had no vegetable choices at all), I had the soup and salad and didn't worry about the small amount of pasta in the soup. I avoided most of it and didn't worry about the rest.
I made sure I ate lots of vegetable during the rest of the day since dinner was less veggies than normal. I drank water with dinner. I spent my time enjoying socializing with friends and did not make food the focus of the get together.
If I am going to someone's house, I check ahead on the menu. I offer to bring something to contribute to the meal. It can be a casserole that is on plan. Something that will give me lots of vegetables even if there is nothing else that I can eat.
I was at Derby races this weekend where all they sold was hot dogs, pizza, candy and junk. I packed a lunch bag with a cooler. My food was so good I didn't feel like I missed out on anything.
If I absolutely cannot prepare and find myself in a situation where I cannot eat on plan, then I just make the best choices possible but I still eat the food. It is very important to eat regularly. I do make sure I am not put in that situation very often though.
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