Attitude, mindset and mental health go hand-in-hand with your journey to thyroid health. I have an entire YouTube video on this topic if you’re interested. 

One of the things that I encourage my clients to do when they’re on their healing journeys is to continue the activities and routines that they really enjoy.

For me, that’s eating out! 

My husband and I love visiting our local restaurants as a date night. It’s always fun to get out of the house, to not have to cook, and to just sit down and enjoy each others’ company.

Now, this doesn’t mean that I go wild with my food choices. You may have heard of something called the 80/20 rule, which refers to having 80% of your diet be healthy food, and 20% be indulgent.

Unfortunately, this rule doesn’t apply when you’re dealing with hypothyroidism. Our thyroids can be impacted by even just one bad meal, or one bad food choice. It’s really important to remain consistent with your clean eating practices.

All this means is that when I do go out to eat, I still stick to the same clean eating principles that I would follow at home.

So, here is a quick rundown of how to make healthy choices when you’re eating out at a restaurant. 

Foods you should avoid

• Gluten

• Soy

• Dairy

• Raw ​​cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc.) - but cooked is great!

• Processed foods

• Deep-fried foods (because the oils can be really hard on the thyroid)

• Refined sugar

• Alcohol

Foods you should eat

• Healthy grains and starches (ex. Brown rice, potatoes)

• Good fats (ex. Avocado, nuts)

• A lot of vegetables

• Healthy, lean protein (ex. Chicken breast, ground turkey, eggs.

For drinks, ask for mineral water or herbal tea. If you can find a mocktail that doesn’t have simple syrup, that could also be a really fun addition to your meal!

Here are some examples of meals I might order at my favorite restaurants:

• A turkey burger with a lettuce bun

• Roast chicken, wild salmon, or a nice steak with potatoes and veggies as sides

• A vegetarian omelet (no cheese!)

• A power bowl with healthy grains, veggies and chicken

Living with hypothyroidism can absolutely be a drag. But if you also love going out to restaurants as a way to socialize and relax, don’t let a slow thyroid stop you! Just make smart choices and dining out can be a regular part of your routine.

Enjoy!