Everyday Systems

I'm struggling with how to handle restaurant meals. Appetizers, bread, big meal... what counts as a plate and no seconds?

I would go literal. Order a main course and count that as the single plate. No bread, no appetisers, no dessert unless it's an occasion meal like a birthday. Restaurant portions are already so huge that one plate is enough

I agree. Eating out can be tricky on N days, but you really do have to just have a main course. I usually have a coffee if others are having a dessert. Try and ignore the bread, appetisers etc and just focus on ordering something really delicious for your main, and really enjoy every mouthful.

If the restaurant has really great bread, or chips and salsa at a Mexican place, I enjoy them but I never eat all my food on my plate. I almost always leave with a doggy bag to have for lunch the next day.
I never order appetizers or dessert just because I know it will make me feel uncomfortably full.

How often? Once every month or two, it probably doesn't matter a whole lot.

If it's weekly or every other week, I'd be a lot more strict.

I try to coordinate restaurant meals with S days or NWS days.
I like to enjoy those extra things as a special treat when I can.

I've pretty much trained myself to wait until the entree to eat. I don't order appetizers, but there are often ones to share, so I put what I want from them on my plate when it comes before I start eating. I save salad, too. I sip my drink while others eat and really relish those first few bites of my meal! I will sometimes ask for a leftovers container right away and put enough food in that so that what's left on the plate is about what I know is enough. Then I relax and eat what's there. I'm usually the last person to finish eating. And I'm almost always too full to really enjoy an expensive dessert, though I might share one on an S day.