How to Eat Out...the Right Way

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Salads: One of the biggest myths about fast foods are the salads. They look green and chock full of vegetables, but when it comes down to how many calories and fat are in the cheese, tortilla strips, and the dressing. When ordering a salad, try to get dressing on the side and pour it in small portions or dip bites into it.

Soups: When ordering soups, try to stick with broth-based or more vegetable-based soups. Creamier soups generally have cream in them, hence more fat and more calories.

Entrees: This is the most difficult part about eating out. It is easy to skip dessert, because it’s a straight forward decision. But when you are faced with choosing between 40 different entrees and sides, this is where it’s easy to slip up. As a general rule, a healthy sized portion is about half of what is put on your plate at a restaurant (you can ask the waiter to box up half of your meal before you get it to get rid of the temptation to keep eating past half). Like soups, try to stay away from creamy or fatty sauces. Fried foods (like wings, chicken, fries etc.) replaced the water content in the food with unhealthy fats. Try to limit the amount of fried foods eaten all the time, but especially at restaurants! Salt is used to excess amounts in fried foods at restaurants, as well as frying food items multiple times. While it ensures a thick, crunchy exterior, it also ensure fat buildup, extra calories, and buildup in your ARTERIES!

Dessert: Skip it! If you are eating out for a birthday, it is okay to enjoy a yummy treat, but limit your portion and try to divide it out into two, or better yet, take your lover out and split the dessert with them!

Side note: Try and stay away from the "Specials of the Day." As these are most likely dishes that include ingredients close to being due, hence their willingness to drop the price and offer less fresh ingredients. Look for dishes that include more greens or food that you know have to be fresh in order to taste good.

Remember...taste your food and enjoy it. Don't just swallow it. Soon, you'll begin to appreciate the freshness of whole food and develop a more skilled palette.

Summary

1. Watch for dressings on salads (fat-free), and try to order it on the side.

2. Eat vegetable or broth-based soups.

3. Share your entrée or split into two portions

4. Don’t order fried foods

5. Either skip dessert, or keep portion sizes small

Tell me, what's your biggest struggle when eating out? Do you have any tricks you use to eat healthy? What's your weakness when sitting in from of the menu?

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