Most people enjoy eating out – whether at a restaurant, café or pub – and the odd meal that is higher in fat or sugar is fine. If you are eating out more often over festive periods you need to be more careful about your food choices.
Having diabetes doesn't mean you can't try different types of food like Chinese, Indian, Thai or Italian. They can have different effects on blood glucose levels but if you monitor your levels regularly you will gradually get to know the effects they have and be able to adjust your treatment for the next time.
Key points about eating out
- Have an alcohol-free aperitif if you're going to have wine with your meal.
- Avoid nibbling on peanuts or crisps before the meal – vegetable crudités, cocktail onions, gherkins or olives are healthier choices.
- Choose vegetable-based soup, melon, light salads or fish for starters. These are better choices than pâtés or deep-fried starters, like breaded mushrooms or potato skins.
- Instead of having meat, fish or poultry that has been fried or battered, or dishes that come with rich creamy or buttery sauces, ask for them to be grilled, roasted or baked. Always remove visible fat from meat and skin from poultry.
- Watch out for high-fat dressings, mayonnaise and creamy dips and sauces. Choose tomato or vegetable based sauces instead and ask for dressings, sauces and butter to be served separately. This way you have a choice of how much to add.
- Fill up with plenty of salad and unbuttered vegetables. If you've chosen a main course that does not contain much carbohydrate ask for extra bread, rice, chapatis or potatoes.
- If you want a dessert, be tempted to choose a fruit-based pudding or sorbet rather than gâteaux, pastries or cheese and biscuits.
- And go easy on the cream.