How to Eat Healthy at Restaurants

Eating right is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle, but it does not mean you have to sacrifice going out to eat. It does mean that you have to learn to discipline the way you eat and what you specifically choose to eat. It is common to toss any thoughts of healthy eating out the window when we are presented with the opportunity of eating at a favorite restaurant, and sensible eating is replaced with over indulgence. Sticking to healthy eating habits does not have to be so painstaking that you choose to avoid eating out at restaurants. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Pick a restaurant that has a well-known reputation for preparing healthy cuisine. This will help you take the guess work out of choosing what to eat off of the menu.

2. Choose a dining time that is not extremely late in the evening. Eating dinner late does not allow you time to burn off any of those extra calories you may have indulged on.

3. Drink water instead of carbonated beverages. Water also aids in healthy digestion of the foods you eat.

4. Choose to have a glass of wine as opposed to beer or other alcoholic beverages which can be higher in calories.

5. Stay away from the appetizers. Instead, choose a non-creamy soup or salad. Salads are a good way to fill your stomach with healthy nutritious foods, but avoid adding salad dressing and use lemon juice to give your salad a little zing of flavor.

6. Ask for whole grain breads and or rolls to be used in the bread basket that may accompany your meal. Eat the serving of bread without butter. Whole grain breads are healthier, while the butter is extra calories you can choose to limit and avoid.

7. Choose entrées that consist of broiled, baked or grilled foods. Deep fried foods or foods that are breaded and battered will contain more calories. Fish and Poultry are good healthy choices. Entrées that include pasta should be chosen when they are made from whole grain or vegetable such as wheat pastas or spinach pasta. For filled pastas like ravioli, stick with vegetable fillings and not cheese fillings.

8. Avoid food choices that have rich creamy sauces. Creamy sauces will be higher in calories and fat.

9. Add healthy vegetables for sides to your entrée, and baked or roasted potatoes or rice instead of French fries.

10. Have condiments like mayonnaise, tartar sauce and other cream dressings or complimenting sauces to be placed in a cup on the side of your dish. This will allow you to ration the use of condiments that may be more fattening.

11. Share your dessert. It is okay to sneak in a little sweet delight at the end of a good meal. However, when choices like sorbet or fresh fruits are part of the dessert menu, you can safely choose any one of those nice end of meal compliments and not feel guilty. But, sometimes that delectable chocolate cake just seems to have your name on it, so, share it with another member of your dining party

Tips & Warnings

• Do not force yourself to eat everything on the plate. It is definitely okay to eat half of the meal and take the rest home in a doggy-bag.