How to Make Healthy Choices When Dining Out
When you go out to eat, you may be wondering what you can eat that will allow you to stick to a healthy diet. If you are trying to stick to a diet, or are just beginning a new healthy lifestyle, going out to eat can be a challenge at first. However, you can eat out and still eat healthy once you know what foods to choose.
- Order from the lunch menu if you can. Lunch-sized portions are generally much smaller than dinner portions. Watching the portions of your food can help you to keep your calorie count down if you are trying to watch your weight.
- Avoid fried foods. Do not order anything that is fried; instead choose foods that are baked. Baked foods are much healthier for you than fried foods are. Fried foods contain a lot of fats which are bad for your diet and your heart.
- Choose a salad from the menu if none of the other options appear healthy. However, remember when ordering a salad you should have the cheese removed, and add extra vegetables instead such as cucumber or tomato. Choose a fat-free or light dressing as well; many calories in a salad are consumed in the dressing.
- Ask the restaurant to hold the butter on your food. Butter is often used to flavor foods that you would not expect. So next time you dine out ask your waiter to cook all of your foods without any butter to reduce the amount of calories and fat.
- Avoid dairy foods such as cream-based soups or salad dressings. Instead choose a soup that is broth-based such as beef barley or chicken noodle.