Cheat Sheet: Ordering at American Diner Restaurants - How to stay on Weight Watchers when you don't know Weight Watcher Freestyle Points

Who doesn't love a good burger?

I love burgers and the best burger is often found at your local mom and pop diner.  I have fond memories of the Prairie Burger as a child.  This was 2 beef patties with grilled ham and cheese, green olives, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, and mayonnaise between 2 slices of thick grilled Texas toast.  Pair that with some fries and maybe a milkshake!  No wonder I was in a size 14 in 7th grade.

Diners offer a variety of cuisines from sandwiches, Mexican, Italian, and Chinese. 

Planning is key....

I still allow these foods occasionally, but they are planned for.  Planning doesn't mean a cheat meal  day or throwing out my WW tracker.  I plan my day to incorporate the old favorites in a way that will still allow me to stay on target with my lifestyle.  I probably will never have another Prairie burger because, that's just not who I am anymore.  I don't need that much food anymore now would my body want it.  More importantly, I can get the same flavors of a juicy burger for lower points and calories by ordering smarter.

My strategy...

There are many different approaches you could take to still eat your favorites. Some examples include sharing an entree with a friend, having a bite from someone else's entree or eating less from the entree you were served that keeps you within your plans limits.  

Until you find out...

The old favorites don't taste as good as they used to and your body doesn't feel the same.  I often feel sluggish and well... I'll spare the gory details.  

The problem I faced...

Since I follow Weight Watchers Freestyle Points as one of my tools to maintain my lifestyle, I would often get frustrated if my tracker didn't have the points listed.  In the beginning, I just wouldn't go...

and then I felt frustrated, punished, restrained....and then...the negative self-talk would get in my head...

The solution... 

I realized in order to have this lifestyle be sustainable and livable, I had to own my choices and own the responsibility.  After all, I can't expect WW to list the points for every single restaurant in the world ... I can't imagine how they'd locate all the food trucks!  I did research on healthy options for American food and created the infographic below. 

I developed new favorites... 

Some diners I've been to have the best grilled chicken sandwiches I have ever tasted.  Often I'll order with a side of barbecue sauce and it tastes like heaven.  I often have entrees like grilled fish and will typically have a kind that I wouldn't normally prepare at home.  It makes me feel fancy.  It may sound silly, but it's true.  

The infographic is free for you... 

Feel free to download it from the link below.  Share it with your friends, and let me know what you think of it in the comments below. 

Is there a cuisine you miss?

Let me know if you'd like information on another cuisine you are interested in, by leaving me a comment below.  

Thank you for reading. Be happy with where you are, where you're headed and content to enjoy every day along the way!  Mary

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