Dining out is a great way to enjoy food and connect with your friends and loved ones. But it can be easy to get off track, overeat, and consume high-sugar foods. These culprits spike your glucose, leaving you feeling low-energy, hungry, and irritable. (1) And these fluctuations can even affect your sleep quality, especially if you’ve been out later in the evening.
Set yourself up for success and check the menu before you dine out. Plan for steady by exploring in advance what healthy options are available and thinking through what you’ll order.
When choosing your meal, keep your glucose steady by picking a protein-forward main course like chicken, salmon, or tofu.
Instead of starchy sides (like mashed potatoes, chips, or white rice), opt for salad, vegetables, or low-glycaemic carbohydrates (like brown rice or quinoa). These will impact your glucose less.
Avoid sauces and condiments that are high in sugar. (2) And monitor your alcohol intake. It can fluctuate your glucose, dehydrate you, and disturb your sleep patterns.
When it comes to dessert, skip it, share it, or go savoury to keep your glucose steady. (3) Make it less about restrictions and more about making healthy choices.