Eating Out With Coworkers?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: HHonors Diamond; My Mom's Favorite Kid
Posts: 3,929
Eating Out With Coworkers?
On Wednesday my department is having an end of year lunch (I'm an academic and this is the end of the academic year). I was thinking about going but when the location was announced I get unexcited really quickly. We're going to the place that we take ALL the guest speakers. I've been to this place 2 or 3 times since March.
The place is an OK place but they don't have really great healthy options beyond the veggie and hummus starter plate. They make a really good meatloaf but the fish offerings are usually "crusted" and fishy. So it's pretty hard to eat well there. I've always had trouble avoiding dessert there, too.
But the real problem is that I always leave the place hungry. I honestly get more hunger satisfaction from a big Snickers bar (which is probably at least1000 Calories cheaper).
I'm really havnig trouble deciding whether or not to go. I sort of hate the restaraunt and I'm sooooo close to goal weight; however, one faculty member is leaving and this will be his last lunch. What should I do, FTers?
The place is an OK place but they don't have really great healthy options beyond the veggie and hummus starter plate. They make a really good meatloaf but the fish offerings are usually "crusted" and fishy. So it's pretty hard to eat well there. I've always had trouble avoiding dessert there, too.
But the real problem is that I always leave the place hungry. I honestly get more hunger satisfaction from a big Snickers bar (which is probably at least1000 Calories cheaper).
I'm really havnig trouble deciding whether or not to go. I sort of hate the restaraunt and I'm sooooo close to goal weight; however, one faculty member is leaving and this will be his last lunch. What should I do, FTers?
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,051
Go to the lunch.
Have you called the restaurant to see if they can do something healthier for you?
If you attend, you might want to consider doing something similar to what TrojanHorse suggested. Eat prior to attending the lunch. I'm not suggesting you don't eat at lunch, because I think when you're out with kids, it's a little easier to not eat. I think here, you run the risk of offending someone if you don't eat something. However, eat something similar, but a bit smaller, than what you'd normally eat for lunch, before you go to the department lunch. At the department lunch, eat the veggie and hummus starter plate as your lunch. Drink lots of water, and if you still want dessert after you eat the starter plate, ask for fresh fruit as dessert.
Have you called the restaurant to see if they can do something healthier for you?
If you attend, you might want to consider doing something similar to what TrojanHorse suggested. Eat prior to attending the lunch. I'm not suggesting you don't eat at lunch, because I think when you're out with kids, it's a little easier to not eat. I think here, you run the risk of offending someone if you don't eat something. However, eat something similar, but a bit smaller, than what you'd normally eat for lunch, before you go to the department lunch. At the department lunch, eat the veggie and hummus starter plate as your lunch. Drink lots of water, and if you still want dessert after you eat the starter plate, ask for fresh fruit as dessert.
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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Go to the lunch.
Have you called the restaurant to see if they can do something healthier for you?
If you attend, you might want to consider doing something similar to what TrojanHorse suggested. Eat prior to attending the lunch. I'm not suggesting you don't eat at lunch, because I think when you're out with kids, it's a little easier to not eat. I think here, you run the risk of offending someone if you don't eat something. However, eat something similar, but a bit smaller, than what you'd normally eat for lunch, before you go to the department lunch. At the department lunch, eat the veggie and hummus starter plate as your lunch. Drink lots of water, and if you still want dessert after you eat the starter plate, ask for fresh fruit as dessert.
Have you called the restaurant to see if they can do something healthier for you?
If you attend, you might want to consider doing something similar to what TrojanHorse suggested. Eat prior to attending the lunch. I'm not suggesting you don't eat at lunch, because I think when you're out with kids, it's a little easier to not eat. I think here, you run the risk of offending someone if you don't eat something. However, eat something similar, but a bit smaller, than what you'd normally eat for lunch, before you go to the department lunch. At the department lunch, eat the veggie and hummus starter plate as your lunch. Drink lots of water, and if you still want dessert after you eat the starter plate, ask for fresh fruit as dessert.
Cheers.
#4
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 44,553
Go to the lunch.
Have you called the restaurant to see if they can do something healthier for you?
If you attend, you might want to consider doing something similar to what TrojanHorse suggested. Eat prior to attending the lunch. I'm not suggesting you don't eat at lunch, because I think when you're out with kids, it's a little easier to not eat. I think here, you run the risk of offending someone if you don't eat something. However, eat something similar, but a bit smaller, than what you'd normally eat for lunch, before you go to the department lunch. At the department lunch, eat the veggie and hummus starter plate as your lunch. Drink lots of water, and if you still want dessert after you eat the starter plate, ask for fresh fruit as dessert.
Have you called the restaurant to see if they can do something healthier for you?
If you attend, you might want to consider doing something similar to what TrojanHorse suggested. Eat prior to attending the lunch. I'm not suggesting you don't eat at lunch, because I think when you're out with kids, it's a little easier to not eat. I think here, you run the risk of offending someone if you don't eat something. However, eat something similar, but a bit smaller, than what you'd normally eat for lunch, before you go to the department lunch. At the department lunch, eat the veggie and hummus starter plate as your lunch. Drink lots of water, and if you still want dessert after you eat the starter plate, ask for fresh fruit as dessert.
#5
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
I went out to eat three times in the past 4 days with colleagues/friends.
Simply had a salad and a small appetizer as dinner (I am a vegetarian ..so thats a huge help for me not to choose many other options on the menu).
Simply had a salad and a small appetizer as dinner (I am a vegetarian ..so thats a huge help for me not to choose many other options on the menu).
#6
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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It'sHip, I feel your pain!
Mr. Kipper and I are going to a meeting tonight at a German restaurant... *ugh*
Their dinner menu, in PDF format is: http://www.ottosbrauhauspa.com/pdf/dinner.pdf
Add to it that Mr. Kipper wants to have appetizers there and then go to a cheesesteak place, I'm ready to tell him to go and I'll stay home!
My plan of attack is: eat a big lunch--lots of steamed veggies, some grilled chicken tossed in there, and have a snack of fruit and yogurt right before we arrive at the restaurant. I'm hoping to do a salad or steamed veggies at Otto's, and then a few bites of a buffalo chicken cheesesteak afterwards, if I'm still hungry. My guess though, is that I'll be stuffed after a salad and or steamed veggies, and will happily let Mr. Kipper have a cheesesteak while I sit and think "If I were to have even a bite or two, I'd be so stuffed and uncomfortable."
Mr. Kipper and I are going to a meeting tonight at a German restaurant... *ugh*
Their dinner menu, in PDF format is: http://www.ottosbrauhauspa.com/pdf/dinner.pdf
Add to it that Mr. Kipper wants to have appetizers there and then go to a cheesesteak place, I'm ready to tell him to go and I'll stay home!
My plan of attack is: eat a big lunch--lots of steamed veggies, some grilled chicken tossed in there, and have a snack of fruit and yogurt right before we arrive at the restaurant. I'm hoping to do a salad or steamed veggies at Otto's, and then a few bites of a buffalo chicken cheesesteak afterwards, if I'm still hungry. My guess though, is that I'll be stuffed after a salad and or steamed veggies, and will happily let Mr. Kipper have a cheesesteak while I sit and think "If I were to have even a bite or two, I'd be so stuffed and uncomfortable."
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
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It'sHip, I feel your pain!
Mr. Kipper and I are going to a meeting tonight at a German restaurant... *ugh*
Their dinner menu, in PDF format is: http://www.ottosbrauhauspa.com/pdf/dinner.pdf
Add to it that Mr. Kipper wants to have appetizers there and then go to a cheesesteak place, I'm ready to tell him to go and I'll stay home!
My plan of attack is: eat a big lunch--lots of steamed veggies, some grilled chicken tossed in there, and have a snack of fruit and yogurt right before we arrive at the restaurant. I'm hoping to do a salad or steamed veggies at Otto's, and then a few bites of a buffalo chicken cheesesteak afterwards, if I'm still hungry. My guess though, is that I'll be stuffed after a salad and or steamed veggies, and will happily let Mr. Kipper have a cheesesteak while I sit and think "If I were to have even a bite or two, I'd be so stuffed and uncomfortable."
Mr. Kipper and I are going to a meeting tonight at a German restaurant... *ugh*
Their dinner menu, in PDF format is: http://www.ottosbrauhauspa.com/pdf/dinner.pdf
Add to it that Mr. Kipper wants to have appetizers there and then go to a cheesesteak place, I'm ready to tell him to go and I'll stay home!
My plan of attack is: eat a big lunch--lots of steamed veggies, some grilled chicken tossed in there, and have a snack of fruit and yogurt right before we arrive at the restaurant. I'm hoping to do a salad or steamed veggies at Otto's, and then a few bites of a buffalo chicken cheesesteak afterwards, if I'm still hungry. My guess though, is that I'll be stuffed after a salad and or steamed veggies, and will happily let Mr. Kipper have a cheesesteak while I sit and think "If I were to have even a bite or two, I'd be so stuffed and uncomfortable."
Good luck.
Cheers.
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,051
A # of the sides are veggies, such as cucumber salad. Or order a real salad & make that your main, even if you go out afterwards to the cheesestake place. If you need a couple of bites of the cheesesteak to get through, then do that. But don't mindgame yourself - unless it's the I'm trying to change eating habits for a lifetime, not mindwrestle myself every single time I go out.
Good luck.
Cheers.
Good luck.
Cheers.
#9
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 44,553
It'sHip, I feel your pain!
Mr. Kipper and I are going to a meeting tonight at a German restaurant... *ugh*
Their dinner menu, in PDF format is: http://www.ottosbrauhauspa.com/pdf/dinner.pdf
Mr. Kipper and I are going to a meeting tonight at a German restaurant... *ugh*
Their dinner menu, in PDF format is: http://www.ottosbrauhauspa.com/pdf/dinner.pdf
And the staff pictured on the menu are in pretty good shape, so that must mean their food is healthy.
#10
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Posts: 51,051
Actually, we ended up not eating there. Although, I did kick back 3 beers, so that was more than dinner I guess.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: HHonors Diamond; My Mom's Favorite Kid
Posts: 3,929
I guess I should update everyone on lunch.
The restaurant is this independent jazz place whose food is really good for made in a home but really lackluster for restaurant fare. I guess that's why it is so popular amongst those who don't have a "chef" at home. Other than the mediocre food the real problem is that I always leave hungry because the portions are fancy, really expensive restaurant small.
After a few days of pouring over the online menu and fretting over whether or not to go, I decided that I needed to for my colleague who is on his way to other lands. Basically the only things on the menu that weren't breaded, fried, buttered, or creamed where the salads. But all the salads had worthless stuff like oils, chips, and cheeses and if you took those things off there'd basically be nothing left but shredded iceburg lettuce.
I decided that I would order whatever this formerly overweight colleague (literally half the man he used to be) ordered. As luck would have it he arrived just before my group so I was able to sit next to him and my luck continued when one of my thin colleagues took the chair on the other side of me. I knew they'd both order well so I wouldn't be tempted by the menu or my other colleagues.
It turned out OK except that my salad which came with torilla chips didn't just have chips on it but crumbled up in it. I did my best but I'm not looking forward to having to go back to that place.
The restaurant is this independent jazz place whose food is really good for made in a home but really lackluster for restaurant fare. I guess that's why it is so popular amongst those who don't have a "chef" at home. Other than the mediocre food the real problem is that I always leave hungry because the portions are fancy, really expensive restaurant small.
After a few days of pouring over the online menu and fretting over whether or not to go, I decided that I needed to for my colleague who is on his way to other lands. Basically the only things on the menu that weren't breaded, fried, buttered, or creamed where the salads. But all the salads had worthless stuff like oils, chips, and cheeses and if you took those things off there'd basically be nothing left but shredded iceburg lettuce.
I decided that I would order whatever this formerly overweight colleague (literally half the man he used to be) ordered. As luck would have it he arrived just before my group so I was able to sit next to him and my luck continued when one of my thin colleagues took the chair on the other side of me. I knew they'd both order well so I wouldn't be tempted by the menu or my other colleagues.
It turned out OK except that my salad which came with torilla chips didn't just have chips on it but crumbled up in it. I did my best but I'm not looking forward to having to go back to that place.
#12
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What did the 2 colleagues have?
And consider saying next time a lunch comes up - hey, we always go there. Why don't we try somewhere new? You might do some research & have suggestions on where the somewhere new is for the next time.
PS - Thanks for the update!
Cheers.
And consider saying next time a lunch comes up - hey, we always go there. Why don't we try somewhere new? You might do some research & have suggestions on where the somewhere new is for the next time.
PS - Thanks for the update!
Cheers.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: HHonors Diamond; My Mom's Favorite Kid
Posts: 3,929
I'm not sure the "hey we go here all the time" gig would work. The boss man really likes the place and actually has a band who plays there during the week. He eats there all the time and is there number 1 fan. I'm probably the only one who dislikes it since I make better food at home. No one else has a gourmet at home.
#14
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The formerly overwiehgt colleague had the same thing that I had. Or more precisely I had what he had... The thin colleague had a tabbouleh wrap. The wrap looked OK when I saw it. I'm always very cautious when ordering "healthy" wraps since they always seem to have some unhealthy addition like mayo or bacon.
I'm not sure the "hey we go here all the time" gig would work. The boss man really likes the place and actually has a band who plays there during the week. He eats there all the time and is there number 1 fan. I'm probably the only one who dislikes it since I make better food at home. No one else has a gourmet at home.
I'm not sure the "hey we go here all the time" gig would work. The boss man really likes the place and actually has a band who plays there during the week. He eats there all the time and is there number 1 fan. I'm probably the only one who dislikes it since I make better food at home. No one else has a gourmet at home.
Depending on your relationship with your boss, you could also explain to him privately that while you really enjoy this place, the food is really tempting, and you are really focusing on trying to improve your health, and would appreciate a little more variety.
Or, if you want to tackle a little extra work, tell him that you'd love to take on planning all of your department's lunches for the semester, and then you can feel free to schedule lunches at other locations.
#15
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 44,553
I'm not sure the "hey we go here all the time" gig would work. The boss man really likes the place and actually has a band who plays there during the week. He eats there all the time and is there number 1 fan. I'm probably the only one who dislikes it since I make better food at home. No one else has a gourmet at home.