Wow. I ate out and did ok.

You guys. This is a HUGE deal for me. Usually when I eat out I say, "I'm paying. I'm going to get what I want." I've started (started) to look at food in a different way. I'm trying to look at food as nourishment, a way to feed and take care of my body instead of a way to entertain and comfort myself.
So. We went out to dinner tonight. I picked a choice with a smiley face, it was "Chef's Healthy Options". It wasn't the best choice, in retrospect. Shrimp over linguini... with butter and wine sauce. Well. I split it in half automatically. About a cup of pasta and some shrimp. And lots of butter. I didn't love it, so didn't even eat all the shrimp or even half of the pasta.
But. Other things- I didn't have any bread first. And I skipped alcohol- empty calories!! And I got a fruit plate instead of dessert. And I didn't get an appetizer. Instead of a creamy salad dressing, I got a vinaigrette (not the best, I know, but still better for me).
I did have some bites of fried calamari. I wasn't perfect.

I also didn't cave in an emergency, earlier today. Each day I bring a measured salad and reduced fat salad dressing (that Newman's Own Honey Mustard- you guys that stuff ROCKS!!!). Well, today I forgot my salad dressing. I can't eat a salad dry (I REALLY can't.) So I was going to Baja Fresh for something else and was just going to skip eating. Instead, I looked at the menu. Picked something out that fit in my exchanges and wasn't crazy calories. I got the Tortilla Soup, but without the tortilla strips and with chicken. It was 320 calories. Not bad, for fast food!!

So, while I had my good and not-so-great points today, I feel like I made some huge gains. This stuff- making good choices while out and in a food crisis, these are huge for me. This is when I find all kinds of excuses to make poor choices, in the past.

Next challenge: this weekend!