My husband and I enjoy eating out as neither of us is really that great of a cook. It's nice to be able to sit back and let someone else do the dishes as well. We don't eat out as much as we used to not only for financial reasons but health reasons as well. HOWEVER, it is possible to eat out and still eat healthy or stay within a moderate range of calories. How? Let me explain.
First of all, do some research before you even leave the house. More and more restaurants, whether fast food or sit down, are putting the nutritional information on their websites. You can find out which foods have the lowest calories and saturated fats. Choose wisely from there.
Secondly, skip the sodas, diet or regular. Stick with water. Even at fast food restaurants you can ask for a cup of water and most of the time it's free. Not only is it calorie free, but the water will help you to fill up faster and not eat as much.
Thirdly, eat slowly. Savor your food. When you are full, STOP EATING. This is a big key. If you need to, take some of your meal home with you for later or share with someone else and only order ONE meal.
Fourth, stick with the healthier choices. For example, grilled foods instead of fried foods. Grilled chicken or fish. Baked Potato instead of fries. Salads, of course, are always a good idea, BUT make sure there aren't a whole bunch of extras like cheese and croutons. Stick with the veggies. Try the whole wheat bread instead of the regular.
If you stick with these tips, you can safely navigate almost any menu without breaking your diet.
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Comments: 28
Great tips!
I also order salad a lot. I do eat dressing, but ask for it on the side. That way I don't get the huge amounts.
I like to dip my salad in the dressing instead of drenching the salad because then each bite has just the right amount of dressing on it!
Me too.
Very good tips. I knew a few restaurants had their nutritional info on their sites but never thought to actually look at it.
In some other countries they make dining a big social event. It takes them forever to eat because they are chatting and enjoying the company of others at the same time. I bet they rarely eat too much!
I thought I heard that you should eat your salad last because of how it helps digestion. I could be totally wrong.
I tried some of the crystal light to-go in my drinks when I'm out and that saved some money!
I have also heard that eating your salad after your main dish is good for digestion. I think it is a European custom.
When I do go out to eat I'm picky about what I get to eat. I almost always get a salad, if not I get something else I know is healthy and low in calories. As for slowing down, I'm a very slow eater and I don't eat much, so it usually takes me 3 meals to finish off what Ihop calls one meal...
YES!
I love eating in restaurants... I cook basically the same foods over and over, so in a restaurant I get to try new foods.
Another tip - often there is far too much salad dressing ON the salad. If you ask for it on the side, you can control how much you eat - often the dressing is the most calorie dense part of the salad.
Great tips!
Good tips.
Good advice, thanks
Thank you, so good to know.
thanks for the advice!
Eating out is never as healthy as doing your own cooking.. you wouldnt believe at what goes on in the kitchens of even the finest restaurants. Sick workers sneezing in the food and worse, food from dubious sources handled in unbelievable unsanitary conditions before it even gets there. Not to mention foods kept at the wrong temp and insect dropings and rodents. Just ask anyone who has ever worked as a health inspector or actually worked in one of those places ...
Besides all that, cooking is a form a creativity and a method of communicating love to those who eat it.. you are missing out so much buy delegating this to strangers.
Sadly to say, the number of people who actually know how to cook and care for their loved ones is dropping every year. Eating is is also contributing to the degredation of the family.
Healthy eating out starts with understanding what it takes to eat healthy. Good tips! Remember, you're the customer and should be able to "have it your way" even if you're not at Burger King
gr8 advice thanks for sharing
I work at a restaurant. In the salad bar section. It's very easy for me to eat healthy there.
I cook healthy meals at home, but when we do go out, I like to splurge and get something I wouldn't make at home....healthy or not.
This is great advice
I do most of our cooking, but when I am on my work trips...I am eating out for three meals a day for as many as nine days! I have to make healthy choices....or I will gain a ton!
Thanks for sharing! :)
To cut down on carbs skip the bread all together. If you must have bread, dip it in olive oil instead of using the butter or olio they provide.
I never get through but half of my meal when we eat out. Ask them to please place half of your meal in a to-go box as they are bringing it to the table. That way you aren't tempted to over eat.
Great tips.
I've also heard that Coffee is an appetite suppressant, so I almost always have coffee when we eat out.
that is cool
Health
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