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Today I went to dinner with some folds from work. We had planned to go to a Vietnamese restaurant. I had researched what would be my good low-carb options and was well prepared for the meal. THEN, we found out that the place was closed and ended up at Korean. NOT making excuses for myself, just talking to you guys for accountability purposes. But, the Korean restaurant was vERY accommodating. I could not figure out what on the menu would be LC friendly. Finally settling on grilled meat, in spicy sauce. Asked for the sauce on the side, they said no. When I got that meat, could immediately tell it was full of sugar! It was very tasty, but I have no idea (once again) how many carbs, I am sure a lot though because of that sweet taste. I thought the sauce would be SPICY.
I am trying to decide whether or not I feel like this was a
'cheat'. I am leaning toward NOT, because first of all I planned to stay on track. and secondly, i feel like since this is not a 'diet' I should not get into the cheat mentality. I ended up at a place that was not conducive to my woe, and that is a lesson well learned.
Just want to tell you guys how difficult I find it to travel so much and have so little control over what is put into the food I eat. I have been to two restaurants in the past two weeks that would not accommodate my special requests. Its very frustrating
View Diet Calendar, 11 October 2010:
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1105 kcal
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Fat: 83.84g | Prot: 60.49g | Carbs: 33.05g.
Breakfast: macadamia nuts. Lunch: bean curd, pork fat, pork chop, fried cabbage. Dinner: korean. more...
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 Comments
I know it must be very frustrating. But you did the best you could do - and you tried. That's all any of us can do, really. On every day that you CAN control things...get the most bang for your buck...and keep it clean...then when Korean food throws you a curve ball...guess you have to punt sometimes. (ok, that's baseball and football...but you get my meaning?) are you home yet? hope you are well.
11 Oct 10 by member: jsfantome
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korean is hard, I know we used to eat there a lot, not going to anymore cause I cant think of one thing on the menu that is atkins friendly. I am, however, going to make my own korean SF marinade to satisfy any desire to eat it. Actually, was thinking the meat or chicken jun might be OK if the egg batter is truly only egg
12 Oct 10 by member: feeling fatter
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It is SO frustrating, I travel every week for work so I am eating out 3 - 4 nights a week, at a minimum 2 nights. I usually eat alone at a place like Outback or something, easy to get something special ordered. However, I want to socialize with my coworkers when they decide to go out but they often want Asian food and that is the most difficult I think. Those restaurants seem to be the least accommodating of all. I mean, most places you can special order something or order it without sauce. I find it extremely annoying for them to tell me that I cant get SOMETHING that just has meat and veggies! It would be different if this only happened occasionally but its happening to me every week and my weight loss is SO SLOW. I know its due to these food choices. Anyway, I just really needed to vent about this. I know this is a marathon, not a sprint, but I would like to see my scales moving in the right direction each week. I think I will go back and read the thread about mindsets because I need to keep my focus~
12 Oct 10 by member: RHerron
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any chance you could socialize with them and not eat...perhaps eat before or after their asian outings??? (just a thought...but that has it's own scheduling issues I'm sure). Or - do you think they would do just steamed veggies...like if you were vegatarian??? (and then grab something else after you leave)? Just trying to think outside the box...there must be a solution in here somewhere?
12 Oct 10 by member: jsfantome
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Hi RHerron. I'm Korean, so here's my advice on Korean and other Asian restaurants:
Most Korean restaurants have kalbi without any marinade whatsoever. It's called "saeng galbi" -- translates to "fresh meat." It's usually served with a little saucer of salt mixed into sesame oil. I dip my chopsticks into the sauce (like dipping your fork into salad dressing) to keep those calories down. That's what I usually order when I go to Korean restaurants (about every 2 weeks).
In terms of the side dishes (a/k/a "pan chan"), most Korean restaurants serve a lot of veggy-based side dishes. Just try to avoid the ones that have sugar in the marinade (and that'll depend on the restaurant). I usually go for the spinach, bean sprouts and kimchee side dishes.
My family eats out every weekend at a Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown (in downtown LA). When I order Atkins-friendly dishes (roast duck, string beans sauteed in garlic sauce, fried chicken wings, lobster in garlic sauce) -- I ask for no MSG, no corn starch, no sugar. We also go out for dim sum weekly, and I eat the fillings, but forego the dumpling wrappers (which ae made with flour).
12 Oct 10 by member: hbkim
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Thanks HBKIM for the response on Asian food. I am going tonight again for Sczechuan and your tips should help a lot. Last night I tried to order the unseasoned meat, they said I could not get it unless I ordered 2 orders of it for a whopping 50 bucks! I also tried to get "the sauce on the side" and they told me NO sauce on the side! LOL, its kind of funny now but at the time so annoying! :)
JSFANTOME, I could skip the dinners I guess. I think most places will be more accomodating but these particular places were just tough~ I will let you know how it goes after tonight's dinner. The place is having some special menu so it might be challenging. We shall see...
12 Oct 10 by member: RHerron
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I read in Atkins 72 that he went for (Asian) Egg Fo Young, roast duck, string beans or MuShu Pork without the wrappers and sauce. Many asian places now offer chicken/beef lettuce wraps (beware the rice noodles and sauces). Try to get your MuShu pork with a lettuce wrap if possible. Some offer a whole broiled fish. Good luck!
12 Oct 10 by member: Wifezilla
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My goodness. A very unaccommodating Korean restaurant! Their policy just makes no sense, since all you want is the same meat that they put into a marinade; you just want it pre-marinade. Anyway, if you make clear that you need the accommodation for medical reasons, perhaps they would be more flexible. I note that most soy sauces, believe it or not, contain gluten, so if you ask for gluten-free meat, perhaps they might be more accommodating.
I agree, however, that eating out is tough. My worst days are when I'm traveling on business and eat at unfamiliar restaurants, where I have no idea what goes into the food. Another option for Asian restaurants: steamed or grilled fish. Just ask them to go light on the salt (they usually salt the heck out of fish) and the same no MSG, no sugar, no cornstarch (used to thicken sauces). Good luck!
12 Oct 10 by member: hbkim
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Just saw Wifezilla's post. I agree: avoid those sweet sauces! MooShoo is usually served with a hoisin sauce, which is loaded with sugar, so if you order that, make sure they don't "assemble" it in the kitchen (i.e. put the filling in the crepe, with the sauce). Ask for it unassembled (and many restaurants do it at the table as part of the presentation). Enjoy your dinner tonight!
12 Oct 10 by member: hbkim
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I actually managed to go Teriaki (sp???) I just ask for the chicken with no sauce and salad on the side no dressing or rice... my husband gets the works but they've been great so far about accommodating me and my requests... wow what a rigid place!
12 Oct 10 by member: Myree67
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Well tonight's sczechuan was a tasting party. They provided 20 dishes for the party served family style. It was really good, but no special orders since each dish was serving the whole table. there were hot and cold appetizers along with several main courses and dessert. I tasted the meats that were served in chili oil, vegetables, and fish in dry pot. I avoided anything that looked like it was in a sweet sauce, like this eggplant and a couple other dishes that either looked like they were breaded or had noodles (Dan Dan noodle). I also skipped the scallion pancake and the yam dessert.
The food was delicious and I learned what I would be able to order the next time we go to that restaurant. Since my teammates LOVE that place (one is from Taiwan and one from Shanghai), it was worth it just to learn what foods will be appropriate in future. I love the tea smoked duck and my absolute favorite is stir fried pig intestine. Overall, I think I did ok but will not be able to update my food diary since none of the food is in the database. Thanks for your support guys! I appreciate it.
12 Oct 10 by member: RHerron
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Sounds like a wonderful evening with culinary delights!
12 Oct 10 by member: hbkim
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