I know you are busy, stressed, and permanently on the go. And when you are short on time and tired of cooking your own food, dining out is an easy solution. But guess what? Your diet doesn’t have to suffer! Dining out no longer means you are forced to make poor food choices. In fact, almost every restaurant, fast food chain, and grocery store in America has healthy – or at least “Health-ish” options to choose from.
10 TIPS FOR EATING OUT:
1. Do your Research – look at the menu of the restaurant and decide what you want to eat before you leave the house.
2. Pay attention to how the food is prepared. DON’T– get anything that is deep-fried, pan-fried, basted, butter-dipped, breaded, creamy, crispy, scalloped, Alfredo, au gratin, or in a cream sauce. DO – look for items that are steamed, broiled, baked, or sautéed
3. Drink Water instead of Soda or Juice
4. Control your portion size
5. Easy on the Salt
6. Skip the booze
7. Send back the free food – The breadbasket, rolls, tortilla chips, wonton noodles, or whatever else they put on the table right when you sit down isn’t FREE of fat, calories, and sodium. You didn’t order it, so don’t eat it.
8. Have it your way – specify how you want your food done, most restaurants will accommodate.
9. “Undress your food” – Always ask for the sauce/dressings on a side. Instead of pouring it on, dip your form in the sauce before you take a bite.
10. Skip Desert – Skipping desert can save you 500-1000 calories or even more. YOU will be glad you did.
HEALTHIER RESTAURANT OPTIONS WHEN EATING OUT