Restaurants Accommodate Atkins Dieters

By: Emily Sirois
Posted In: News

Dining out is meant to be an enjoyable experience for everyone, and those people on such diets as the Atkins diet can now enjoy going out to eat at Coddington’s Brewing Company of Newport and Johnny’s Atlantic Beach Club and Pavilion in Middletown without worrying about eating the wrong foods.

According to the Atkins Nutritionals Web Site, the Atkins diet is a new lifestyle that allows you to limit carbohydrates so that your body burns fat. Many people like this kind of diet because it allows you to eat satisfying portions of food and tailor it to your own needs and tastes. It is recommended to stay away from sugars and overly processed foods, such as soda, candy and fast food, when on the Atkins diet. Foods that you should incorporate into your diet include proteins such as meat, cheese, eggs, fish and skinless chicken. Other foods recommended are nuts, seeds and grains like oatmeal and brown rice.

What Coddington’s Offers

Jim Manning, a bartender from Coddington’s Brewing Company, said that after a while he tends to recognize those customers who are on a low carb diet by the food that they order. “It’s pretty common to see customers who are on the Atkins diet, especially when they ask for no starches or replace an item with a salad or vegetables,” Manning said.

He recommends telling the waiter or waitress that you are on the Atkins diet so that it will make their job easier and they won’t ask you if you want certain items that aren’t compatible with your diet. Manning also said that his advice for eating out on a low carb diet is that you should be reasonable, since you are on a diet. Popular items on the menu at Coddington’s for those on a low carb diet include many of their burgers and the chicken sandwich.

Eating Out at the Atlantic Beach Club

Elaine Holder, the general manager of Johnny’s Atlantic Beach Club and Pavilion, said that many people who eat at the restaurant who are on the Atkins diet can pick and choose from their entrees and side dishes such as salads or vegetables to eliminate such items as French fries and potatoes. Holder also said that seafood is very popular and that rack of lamb and filet mignon are popular items on their menu for those on the low carb diet.

On Wednesdays the Atlantic Beach Club offers “Menu Madness,” where customers can choose from many different menus so that they have numerous options in terms of items that are suitable for their diets. Her advice for those eating out on a low carb diet is that it is still possible to eat out, but you should cut down on carbohydrates and try to eat smart.

In other words, as long as you follow the steps for your low carb diet, it is still possible for you to have an enjoyable meal when eating out. Both Holder and Manning stressed that their restaurants attempt to be very accommodating for those customers who are on low carb diets so that they will have an enjoyable meal while still sticking to their diets.

Concerns About the Atkins Diet

According to the BBC Online, recently some researchers have been concerned that the Atkins diet may be unbalanced and can cause severe kidney damage in some people. However, some studies have shown that there are no adverse effects and that those on the Atkins diet have been successful with their weight loss.

Dr. Robert C. Atkins, founder of the Atkins diet, stressed the importance of proper diet and nutritional support in an attempt to prevent and combat heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Even though the Atkins diet has been around for a long time, it is being considered a new diet revolution in 2004.

Eating out on a low carb diet has become easier as restaurants accommodate their customers’ needs and the percentage of people on the Atkins diet becomes larger as the success stories grow. A number of fast food chains such as Subway have also begun introducing new low carb items to attract attention to the Atkins diet as well.

As Manning and Holder mentioned, Coddington’s and the Atlantic Beach Club are welcoming those on the Atkins diet to their restaurants because they understand the value of keeping business going and keeping their customers happy. Hopefully your next dining experience at Coddington’s and the Atlantic Beach Club will leave you satisfied after an enjoyable meal that allowed you to stick to the foods on your diet.

Emily Sirois is a senior at Salve Regina University and is an expert on these two restaurants that are popular with Salve students.