How to order
- Start with the protein — fish, chicken, eggs, beans, tofu — and let sides fill the rest.
- Choose the cooking method: grilled, baked, roasted or steamed over fried or creamy.
- Order smaller: a starter as a main, a half portion, or share.
- Ask for sauces and dressings on the side.
- Eat slowly and stop at the first sign of fullness; slower stomach emptying means fullness can build after you stop.
- Plan to take food home.
By type of restaurant
| Where | Often works | Often harder |
|---|---|---|
| Mexican | Bowls with chicken or beans, salsa, a little rice | Large fried dishes, cheese-heavy plates, chips |
| Italian | Grilled fish or chicken, minestrone, a small pasta with a protein | Creamy sauces, large pasta portions, fried starters |
| Asian | Steamed dishes, sashimi, tofu or chicken with vegetables, broth-based soups | Deep-fried dishes, heavy sweet sauces |
| Fast food | Grilled chicken, egg dishes, a kids' or small portion | Large fried combos, milkshakes |
| Café | Eggs, Greek yoghurt, a protein-rich salad | Pastries as a meal |
Drinks
The 2025 joint advisory notes alcohol may worsen nausea and reflux on these medicines and suggests minimising it.1 Fizzy drinks can add to burping and bloating. Water alongside helps. See alcohol on a GLP-1.
Keeping a record of it
A photo of the plate is enough for Cafeity to log a restaurant meal, and it lands on the same timeline as your dose and any symptoms that follow.
Common questions
What should I order at a restaurant on a GLP-1?
A smaller, protein-first dish that is grilled, baked or steamed, with sauces on the side — and plan to take some home.
Can I eat fast food on a GLP-1?
Nothing is forbidden. Smaller portions and grilled rather than fried options are usually easier on a slower stomach.
Sources
- Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: a joint advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association and The Obesity Society Mozaffarian D et al. 2025 (published in four journals)
Written by the Cafeity team from the sources listed here. Figures from prescribing information are quoted as the label states them; trial results are averages from those trials, not predictions for any one person. This page has not yet been reviewed by a clinician — see the editorial policy for how pages are researched and corrected.
The social side
Eating much less in company can draw comment. A short answer — "I'm not very hungry, I'll take the rest home" — is usually enough, and nobody is owed a medical explanation. If a meal out tends to bring on nausea or reflux, noting it in your record helps you see whether it is the food, the portion, or the day in your dosing week.