Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

9

What is the best protein to eat when eating out? I always struggle with this, since I eat out a couple of times a week. Never fast food, but usually just a casual restaurant. Knowing the following about the choices which one would be the BEST crappy choice?

Beef (knowing it is likely factory farmed) Chicken (same) Seafood (farm-raised) Pork (factory and grain fed)

I always stay Paleo when out (no grains, legumes, dairy) and just want to make the best protein choice considering all of the issues (omega 3/6 ratios, toxins, etc.) Thanks!

edited Feb 22 2011 at 19:45

Elizabeth
1,441●4●13

asked Feb 22 2011 at 17:36

Deidre
1,447●1●3●12

1

That's a good question. I've struggled with that one myself. Ultimately, it's going to depend on the restaurant so I'm not sure there can be any general broad-sweeping answers. I say since you're already compromising on the quality of the meat, might as well go for whatever tastes the best, and if you can find restaurants that specify grass-fed, choose those. – Ryan Feb 22 2011 at 17:44

texasleah · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-22 19:42:51Z UTC

3

I struggled with this too, see this thread:

http://paleohacks.com/questions/21858/paleo-at-home-vegan-when-dining-out#axzz1EibRPVk2

I chose Melissa's answer as it gave practical advice in a heirarchy of best restaurant meat to order down to the worst restaurant meat to order.

answered Feb 22 2011 at 19:42

texasleah
4,809●1●14●34

	Thanks. Off to lunch today I go. It is a Mexican restaurant. Ugh! I hate eating out, but if you want to maintain a social life with friends, I guess you have to do it. – Deidre Feb 23 2011 at 14:14
	When I eat out I order beef fajitas/vegetables steamed (this cuts down on the oil), and a house salad with guacamole. no rice, beans or tortillas of course. – texasleah Feb 23 2011 at 17:38
	and if I am unsure of the meat, just very large salad with no dressing. – texasleah Feb 23 2011 at 17:39

Travis Culp · Answer 2 · 2011-02-22 19:48:25Z UTC

3

Wild fish at a sushi restaurant served sashimi or nigiri is probably pretty safe since you can skip the soy sauce and avoid gluten at the same time.

answered Feb 22 2011 at 19:48

Travis Culp♦
39.6k●1●32●132

WyldKard · Answer 3 · 2011-02-22 17:48:55Z UTC

Since you won't find grass-fed/pastured in most restaurants, you're probably best off eating fish if the option is there, if only because the Omega-6/Omega-3 ratios are better. Failing that option, stick to leaner cuts of beef, which will at least offer solid protein.

Sigil · Answer 4 · 2011-02-23 06:16:22Z UTC

0

I go for steak, if I can. I know its a full cut of meat, and if i remember, ask them to cook it in butter instead of whatever concoction they have in the back.

answered Feb 23 2011 at 6:16

Sigil
552●1●5●11

Lee · Answer 5 · 2011-02-24 16:29:37Z UTC

I used to eat out 5 days/week; since going Paleo on January 1, I've probably been out 3 or 4 times.

I agree with Travis that, when I do go out, my first choice is sashimi (I bought a bottle of gluten-free soy and take a little of it in a small plastic container to the restaurant; be sure to get the low-sodium stuff because the gluten-free seems to be so salty it's all I can taste).

If sashimi isn't possible, I go for fish or beef with no sauce. I do it so rarely that I don't worry about it much, and just take some fish oil afterward to straighten out my omega 3:6's.

Suz - Paleo Oz · Answer 6 · 2011-02-24 23:16:30Z UTC

0

My approach is to use eating out as a means of getting variety in my diet, that I wouldn't otherwise. I don't like cooking fish at home, so will often choose that when I'm out.

answered Feb 24 2011 at 23:16

Suz - Paleo Oz
4,716●2●6●26

Which Meat to Eat When Eating Out?

6 Answers