The Real Housewives of Vancouver “Diet”?
Aside from TV shows that I have worked with, such as The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp and Bulging Brides, I don’t typically write articles about nutrition and television programming. But for The Real Housewives of Vancouver, I couldn’t resist.
When I told my friends I was watching the show, they gawked in shock. Maybe I did, too. But honestly, this show is filmed in Vancouver — where I live, and blog weekly as the Nutrition Expert for the Rants & Raves Blog on Slice.ca -- so I can’t deny I was curious.
Five minutes into the very first episode of the show, there was no doubt that these ladies were wealthy, but I also noticed that they all seem to be in really good shape. Which got me thinking: How do these ladies stay in shape? What do they eat? Do they cook often, or do they eat in restaurants most days of the week?
Research has shown that women who eat out five times a week or more consume about 300 extra calories per day, compared to women who eat out fewer than five times a week. Now, I have no doubt that these housewives are active — we’ve seen clips of Reiko boxing and Ronnie playing tennis (on the on-site court at her west Vancouver home) — but I’m still going to guess that these ladies eat out a lot. In the end, an extra 300 calories each day translates into pounds — and not just a few pounds: try 22 pounds by the end of one year.
So, assuming they eat out all the time, how can the Real Housewives of Vancouver stay in such lean shape? Here, three tips the ladies may very well already know, that everyone else can use to ward off the 300 extra calories when eating out.
Have salads sometimes, but not all the time
Yes, salads are healthy, but they get boring, fast — especially if you eat out a lot. Many salads also contain more calories than you can imagine: a typical mixed green salad with dressing, goat cheese and nuts can deliver more calories than a hamburger! Many restaurants will cater to specific requests, so just ask. Have a salad sometimes but also have grilled salmon with steamed vegetables and a small portion of brown rice, or try an open-faced grilled chicken burger with a side salad.
One glass of wine, not the bottle
Watch out for those liquid calories! Just like a bottle of wine can run up your bill, it can also run up the calories, potentially about 1/3 of the total calories you need in one day. If you’re having martinis or cocktails, expect the associated calories to be even higher.
Never go to a restaurant starving
Oftentimes, when we know we’re going out to eat, we don’t want to spoil our appetite, so we wait. Then, when we get to the restaurant, we’re famished and order an appetizer — maybe we share it, maybe not — our entrée and probably dessert. Feeling stuffed later? Might have something to do with the 3,000 calories you’re already feeling guilty about. Take the edge off, and keep the calorie consumption down, by having a little snack beforehand.
Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.
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