Eating out is a huge part of the culture here in the US.  Since we moved to Texas three years ago, it’s definitely become almost a hobby, for us, and for many other people, expats and Americans alike.  I can see why people can easily become obese (and stay obese), here in the US, the ‘bad’ food, is the ‘cheap’ food.

It’s cheaper to eat bad, than to eat good.

If you check the Sunday papers, the coupons overwhelmingly favour the unhealthy food.  Chips (‘crisps’), candy, cookies, frozen microwavable deals and soda.  Processed foods, tinned foods and packet foods are all coupon-able.  However, try and find a coupon for some fresh produce, or lean meat?

They are few and far between.

If you find ’em, buy a dozen papers and stock up on whatever it is the coupon is for.  It’ll be a while before you see them again.

That said, since joining Slimming World, I’ve been determined to try and keep my life as ‘normal’ as I possibly can, which involves our social enjoyment of food.  I’ve made it my mission to still enjoy my favourite restaurants, but incorporate the Slimming World way into my dining out experiences.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be posting a number of blogs related to this, restaurants I’ve been to recently, what you can chose from their menus that are Slimming World friendly and how open they are to making small adjustments to their selections to make their menus more Slimming World adaptable.

First up, a lunchtime favourite of ours, Genghis Grill.

This place is great, you get a metal bowl and the sky is the limit.

Step 1: Pick your protein

They have a huge selection of protein, chicken, pork, beef, fish, sausage, crab, pepperoni etc.  Of course, the best selection for us SW folk is chicken, however, I have been known to toss in the odd piece of sausage or pepperoni.

Be warned! They marinade their fish in oil, so in spite of their fish seeming to be ‘free’ and ‘super speedy’ tilapia, it is not.

Step 2: Season your protein

The next table you’ll come to, is a table lined with lots of seasoning pots, filled with things like garlic, chili flakes, Cajun, black pepper, lemon pepper and curry salt.  I rarely use the seasoning station.

Step 3: Pick your veggies

Next up, is a Slimming World-ers paradise, the Super-Free station, veggies (and fruit).  Remember when you get here, that once cooked, fruit turns in to syns, it’s only on a very rare occasion I throw in some pineapple or mandarin segments in to my bowl.  For the most part, I stay super-free and I load it up high!

Step 4: Pick your sauce

Before I joined SW:USA online, I used a tub of the curry sauce and figured it’d be a few syns.  Since having joined SW, I’ve discovered more specific syn values for the sauce selection in Genghis grill

“Count one or two Syns per bowl for these options: chili garlic sauce, ginger citrus sauce, mongo BBQ sauce, Khan pao sauce, island teriyaki sauce, roasted tomato sauce, stir fry sauce, sweet n sour sauce, Szechuan sauce.

And keep track of three to five Syns for these: 3G sauce, dragon sauce, honey soy sauce, red curry peanut sauce.!” (source SlimmingWorldusa.com)

Step 5: Pick your starch

You present your bowl to one of the gong-masters, and call your starch.  Rice (white or egg fried), pasta twists, noodles or tortilla wraps.  I switch between pasta twists or white rice.

I love it in here, It’s delicious! And you can have a bottomless-bowl option if you’re really hungry!

The gong-masters spray bottles are marked water, however, I always ask them not to use oil when they cook my food – just to be 100% sure, I don’t want secret syns sneaking in without me knowing.

If you’ve not been to Genghis before, you really should give it a whirl, it’s quite an all-round experience, the food is healthy, low-syn (or free depending on how you compile your bowl), choc-filled with super-free and pretty reasonably priced to boot!