The life of a fitness junkie isn’t easy. In addition to all of the pain, preparation and dedication, there’s the difficulty of being careful about what you eat at all times. If you’ve ever tried to stick to a bodybuilding or fitness model diet, you’d know that it’s virtually impossible to find the right balance for nutrients when you’re away from home.
Another issue with eating according to a strict set of rules is that you usually end up eating the same thing every day. That’s why we’ve decided to put together a list of super-tasty takeaway cuisines that you can order in without ruining all of the hard work that you’ve put in.
Suppose you’ve never tried to adhere to a healthy eating regime before. In that case, you’ll be happy to know that you can start by adding some of these suggested meals to your diet, safe in knowing that you’re eating a solid combination of nutrients without sacrificing all of the flavour.
First, we’re going to lay out some guidelines that will help you decide what to order in if you don’t go with our prepared list:
- Skip fatty dressings like oil and mayonnaise
- The same goes for butter, cream and cheese
- Try to avoid bread & rice
- Stay away from the fried options
- Make sure the portion sizes are reasonable and don’t automatically go for entrees & dessert.
- Look for a good mix of protein, minimal carbs and medium to low levels of fat
- The less sugar or salt, the better
Now that we have a few guidelines to follow, here are our suggestions:
Chinese is often thought of as being high in oil and fat, but for the most part, it’s a well-balanced cuisine with low amounts of sugar and a nice mix of meat and vegetables. It’s packed full of carbs, and if it contains pieces of bacon, then it’s a diet killer. The thing to be most careful of when looking for a Chinese delivery that won’t kill your waistline is to avoid the fried rice at all costs. Instead, go for King Prawns with Seasonal Vegetables or the Lemon Grass Chilli Chicken. These are packed with flavor, but minus the rice, they’re perfect for a post-workout meal or a guilt-free takeaway for after-work.
Indian With Indian food, much like Chinese, you have to watch out for the rice, but there’s also another hidden trap – the curry sauce. Many Indian curries use sauces filled with cream, butter or coconut milk, which are sure to play havoc with your healthy lifestyle. Instead of going for a Butter Chicken with rice, try the Tandoori Chicken – the chicken pieces are high in protein and haven’t been fried. With a side of Aloo Gobi vegetables you’ve got yourself a spicy, super-tasty takeaway minus the unwanted calories:)
Thai Thai cuisine is known for its tangy contrasts, with citrus bursts against spicy chili explosions and creamy Coconut milk mixes. The first thing we’ll avoid here is the Coconut milk – it sure is delicious, but at 200 calories for half a cup it’s just not worth it except for special occasions. So, instead of the Massamun Curry, we’re going to opt for Cashew Chicken and a Tom Yum soup this time. We still get the delicious flavours that Thai food is renowned for, but we’ll save ourselves from having to do another 30 minutes on the treadmill tonight! We’ll skip the rice and go for a meal that isn’t plastered in sauce, as many Thai sauces contain lots of sugar and salt.
Pizza We all know Pizza is a minefield of calories. You won’t find many bodybuilding magazines recommending an all-Pizza diet, but if you choose the right toppings and the right time for the meal (either in the middle of the day, so you burn off calories while working or 1 hour after a workout), you can get away with some reasonably healthy slices. To keep yourself looking trim, we’re opting for a Pizza high in protein and a good mix of vegetables. Try the Nove, with marinated King Prawns, tomato, over roasted capsicum and Pesto with a Rocket Salad on the side. Of course, salami, pepperoni and bacon are off the menu with this one, as is pineapple or double-cheese.