Let’s face it in a perfect eating healthy world we would not eat out. But life happens and sometimes we just have to make this choice. But you can still make good choices even eating out. One of the best ways to make good choices is to watch your calories.

One way I combated eating out was by creating Restaurant Rescue 3×5 cards. I chose restaurants that I had near my house, near my work, and that my husband and kids just like. I then created a 3×5 card that had a few different menu options that would keep me within my calorie budget for my meals. I keep these cards in my purse for eating our emergencies.

Chipotle’s Mexican Grill

Chipotle’s does an amazing job to make sure that you can watch what you are eating by offering menus with calorie counts, a special menu for those with Food Allergies, and a break down of calories for each of their ingredients. It is easy to watch what you are eating here, but sometimes you need to get in and get out and you just don’t have time to do the calorie calculations while you are in line.

If you want you can read the full list of nutritional facts for Chipotle’s. But that can be a bit overwhelming. Here are some meals I have created for your quick reference (you can download the cards below):

5 Meals 375 Calories or Less

  • Vegetarian Burrito Bowl – Black Beans, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Cheese, Salsa (370 Calories)
  • Fajita Bowl – Fajita Vegetables, Barbocoa, Cheese, Corn Salsa (370 Calories)
  • Carnitas Taco – Crispy Taco Shell, Carnitas, Cheese, Lettuce, Salsa (375 Calories)
  • Chicken Salad – Chicken, Pinto Beans, Lettuce, Salsa (340 Calories)
  • 2 Kids Meal with Tacos – 2 Crispy Shells, Black Beans, Steak, Lettuce, Guacamole (375 Calories)

Moe’s Southwestern Grill

I love Moe’s website because you can quickly make your meals with a few clicks of the buttons. This is really great if you know you are going to be eating there later in the day. Just plan out what you want to order.

But let’s face it sometimes you don’t know that you are going to be eating there. Or you don’t have the time to load the site (if it will load on your phone at all) and fill out the form. So here are some meals I have created for your quick reference (you can download the cards below):

5 Meals 375 Calories or Less

  • Pork Burrito – 10 Inch Tortilla, Pork, Pinto Beans,  Cheese, Pico de Gallo (367 Calories)
  • Chicken Streaker Burrito – Streaker (No Tortilla), Chicken, Pinto Beans, Lettuce, Cheese, Pico de Gallo(340Calories)
  • Steak Streaker Salad – Streaker (No Shell), Steak, Pinto Beans, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo (375 Calories)
  • Two Fish Tacos – Crispy Corn Taco Shells, Fish, Shredded Lettuce, Cucumber, Black Olives, Pico de Gallo (316 Calories)
  • Kids’ Ground Beef Burrito – 8 Inch Tortilla, Ground Beef, Black Beans, Rice, Cheese, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo (345 Calories)
Make sure & ask for no chips!

Taco Del Mar

Taco Del Mar is one of my husband’s favorite places to eat! This is one place he could eat every day! On their site they have a 500 calories or less menu, which is great. But even with that I still need to cut a few of those calories to stay within my calorie budget. They also offer a gluten free menu and a vegan/vegetarian menu.

You can find Taco Del Mar’s Nutrition Facts on their site or here are some meals I have created for your quick reference (you can download the cards below):

5 Meals 375 Calories or Less

  • Shredded Beef Mondito Bowl – Rice, Refried Beans, Shredded Beef, Cheese, Pico de Gallo; (260 Calories)
  • Baja Bowl Mondo Pork – Black Beans, Pork, Cheese, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo (335 Calories)
  • Two Fish Tacos – Corn Tortillas, 1 Piece of Fish on Each Taco, Cabbage, Salsa, Side of Guacamole (355 Calories)
  • Two Veggie Tacos – Flour tortilla, Rice, Black Beans, Cheese, Lettuce, Pico de Gallo (360 Calories)
  • Chicken Taco Salad (No Shell) – Pinto Beans, lettuce, Chicken, Cheese, Pico de Gallo (320Calories)

Download Your Restaurant Rescue Cards

Now you have some good options for when you are faced with eating out. Being prepared means that you will be less likely to overindulge and stay within your diet. Want to be more prepared? Print these 3×5 cards to have available when you have an eating out emergency:

[box type=”download” style=”rounded”]DOWNLOAD: Restaurant Rescue Cards: Chilpolte’s, Moe’s, Taco Del Mar [/box]

Stay Tuned …

Want more cards? Well you are in luck! I will be doing a full series on different restaurants. Make sure and subscribe to Pepper Scraps for the upcoming Restaurant Rescue posts. Or better yet get the posts right in your email.

Check out the McDonald’s Rescue Cards

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Written by

Pepper Ferguson

Hi I'm Pepper. My family and I are sharing pieces of our lives.
We hope to inspire you by showing that even small changes can make the biggest differences in your life. You don't have to go to extremes to become healthy. Just do it one habit, one meal, one walk, and one hug at a time.

Let's work together one piece at a time making better habits, eating healthier, getting moving, and most of all loving our families.

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