Most mall food courts are basically one big gathering of fast food chains, so many of your choices are going to end up being choosing the lesser of the evils. However, not all is lost. Life is too short to not eat at the mall once in awhile. Moderation is the key or avoidance if you really are determined to get back in those skinny jeans. Here are some tips to help you keep your calorie indulgence at the food court to a minimum.
- Nix the combo offers and order a la carte. Combo deals are everywhere like "Get burger with large fries and get larger drink at no extra cost", or "Buy 3 entree dish with large soda and get free egg roll." These combo deals are designed to get you to buy more food which really only adds to your waistline. Order the smallest size of the food you want, and nix the fries or the extra entree. You may spend an extra $1 or $2 to order a la carte, but you will be getting less food which means less calories to burn off at the gym.
- Eat only half the meal. If you're shopping with a friend, the two of you can buy one meal and split it, so each of you gets a taste of that Pepperoni pizza or Chicken Teriyaki bowl without feeling guilty about eating a whole serving. Mall food portions tend to be big enough to feed two. If you are eating alone, order the meal to go, and then eat half now and save the rest for later or better yet give to someone else at home or at the office.
- Order water instead of soda or those tempting lemonades loaded with sugars which can add on 150-280 calories to your meal depending on the size.
- Order a kid's meal. No one has to know it's for you. With the kid's meal you get way smaller portions compared to the "adult" meals. Plus, you get a fun toy, added bonus!
- Order from one place. A temptation at a food court is to order from 2-3 different places because of proximity. For example, you order a burger from one place, get cheese sticks at another, and then get a large Jamba Juice. Oh, and let's not forget about that yummy chocolate chip cookie you've been drooling over. The more you buy from other places the more you are racking up calories even though psychologically you tell yourself it's only one little thing...but, times 3 or 4 which you fail to factor in because you're more focused on the buffet type allure.
- Do some nutritional research. Ask for a nutritional and ingredients menu at the counter or go online and get information there. Once you see the nutritional low down of these mall foods, you will start making different choices involving less calories, fat, and sugar. For example, a sticky pecan bun will cost you about 1,100 calories and a Hot dog on a stick will set you back 250 calories and 14g of fat. That green salad with low fat dressing is starting to sound real yummy now.
- Shop before you eat. Trying on clothes is a highly motivating experience to remind you to not over indulgence or to make healthier choices at the food court especially if you have just spent the day trying on bathing suits or jeans. The taste of fitting into smaller jeans may end up out weighing the taste for a burger with fries.
