Basic Tips for Eating Out
Set aside half your meal to eat the next day or if it won’t keep for the next day, save it for a snack later.
Basics at an Indian Restaurant
Many curries are great Protein, Veggie or Starch Meals. Just avoid the white rice and any sweet and sour dishes. Ask to substitute veggies, tofu or beans for the rice in a Veggie or Starch Meal.
Soups are good choices, just check the ingredients to make sure there is no white rice.
If you love chutneys (again avoid sweet and sour ones) you can have them with anything.
Starch
Skip the bread and naan as it’s all made with white flour unless the menu indicates “whole wheat” and I’ve yet to find whole wheat naan in a restaurant.
Some chapatis are made with whole wheat flour. If in doubt, ask your wait-person.
Pakora is something dipped in a chick-pea batter and deep-fried. I’m not a fan of deep-frying but if it’s your best choice just make sure that it’s a vegetable pakora rather than meat.
Curries are good choices if they can be made with brown rice and there is no meat in the dish.
Lentil Soup or Dahl are good choices.
Papadum is a crisp lentil wafer and is a good choice to sub for naan or chipati.
Protein
There are lots of wonderful protein dishes in a typical Indian restaurant. Go at it!
Raita – spiced yogurt with vegetables.
Many of the vegetarian dishes are made with cheese and are good choices.
Vegetarian or Neutral
Many of the vegetarian dishes are good choices. Ask for brown rice or tofu in place of white rice.
