Eating out at restaurants is an enjoyable social experience that you shouldn’t have to miss out on for the sake of your health journey. Many people worry that going to restaurants or cafes always means overindulging, however, it is possible to eat healthily when eating out.
Domino’s is well known worldwide for its pizzas, garlic bread and indulgent desserts. Although their signature dishes include higher carbohydrate foods, there are some healthier, lower carbohydrate alternatives when you find yourself eating there.
But why choose lower carb?
Science suggests that a reduced carbohydrate diet is the most effective diet for weight loss. Lower-carb diets are particularly effective for those who struggle with blood glucose control (for e.g. people with type 2 diabetes). On top of this, eating plenty of non-starchy vegetables (e.g. broccoli or peppers), protein (e.g. meat or fish), and healthy fats (e.g. olive oil or nuts) has many health benefits.
It is also completely ok to enjoy a treat when you really want one. The important thing is that this isn’t a frequent indulgence, and you focus on finding the motivation to get back to your healthy habits afterwards.
To save you time and stress, our accredited dietitians at Second Nature have gone through the Domino’s menu and picked out some healthier options. Not all the options are strictly low-carb, but provide the best-balanced meals on offer. Vegetarian options are marked with a (v).
Lower-carb meals
If weight loss is your goal, these options will leave you satisfied and can be included as part of a lower-carb eating plan. We recommend enjoying the below options with at least half a plate of salad or non-starchy vegetables.
- Seasoned chicken wings with:
- Garlic parmesan aioli
- Red hot buffalo sauce
- No sauce
- Chicken mini-meatballs with:
- Garlic parmesan aioli
- No sauce
Moderate-carb meals
These meal options are slightly higher in carbohydrate, with 1 slice of thin crust pizza containing 12g of carbohydrate. For a well-balanced meal, serve 2-3 slices of pizza (~2 SN carbohydrate serves) with at least half a plate of salad or vegetables.
- Thin crust pizza. For an option with plenty of vegetables and minimally processed protein we recommend;
- Spicy veg trio (v)
- Vegorama (v)
- Chicken supreme
- Roasted vegetable deluxe (v)
- Smoked salmon, parmesan and rocket
Enjoy less frequently
These Dominos options are more indulgent and tend to be high in carbohydrates (>30g) and lower in vegetables and protein. Some options may also be deep-fried in oil or contain highly processed meat. As such, we recommend choosing these in moderation and on occasion.
- Classic crust pizza
- Garlic bread
- Fried chicken bites
- Any dessert option
Drinks
Once you have chosen a balanced meal, it’s important to focus on your drink option. The drinks on offer at Domino’s include soft drinks and thick-shakes, which are both high in added sugars. To keep your meal lower in carbohydrates, we recommend opting for water. However, if you’d like to enjoy a sweetened drink, it’s okay to do so on occasion.
Second Nature recipe swaps
Another great alternative to takeaways is cooking your own Second Nature ‘fakeaway’ at home! The great thing about a fakeaway is the recipe can be adapted to improve its nutritional content, and you know exactly what goes into the meal. There’s a number of recipes on our app that could make a delicious Domino’s fakeaway, including:
- Almond flour pizza
- Lamb pitta pizza
- Tortilla pizza
- Chicken wings
Take home message
- Reduced carb diets seem to be the most effective for weight loss.
- If you don’t want to indulge, Domino’s offers a number of healthier, lower-carb options.
- Enjoy a pizza or side of garlic bread when you really want them, then focus on staying motivated to return to healthy habits afterwards.
- Be mindful of drinks that contain hidden sugars.
- Cooking a Second Nature ‘fakeaway’ at home is another great alternative to ordering takeaway.
