Back when I worked at a company that had a cafeteria, I didn’t have to pack my lunch. I could put together a tasty, low-fat salad from the salad bar. If I felt like eating a hot meal, I could get a big plate of food from the “hot” portion of the cafeteria line. The “main dishes” usually included some sort of meat or dairy product, so I’d get the “side dishes” instead.
My usual lunch consisted of “three sides”: usually a starchy side dish such as rice plus two vegetables. I got a big plateful of tasty, zero-cholesterol, low-fat food, and I spent less than the people who ordered the main dish. I can find a satisfying meal at nearly any restaurant, just by ignoring the main dishes and ordering the side dishes instead.
Photo by mack reed (factoid)
Love this idea. I’ve started doing this myself. Restaurants like Pasta Pomodoro make great veggie side dishes like brussels sprouts, spinach, etc. They offer WW pasta if you ask for it. What is currently an underground sort of way to order will some day become common place.