Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and now want healthy choices whether eating at home or at their favorite restaurants. Luckily, the restaurant industry has been quick to accommodate the demand, so you'll find you have many options to "eat healthy" these days.
Whether you're eating at home or dining out, the same rules for watching your weight apply. You need to eat more vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Choose smaller portions of lean meats, fish and poultry. Eat a variety of foods, and fresh, raw foods are better. Cut back on salt, sugar, saturated fats and alcohol. Drink plenty of water, and include exercise every day as part of your daily lifestyle choice.
So whether you're having lunch with the gang, or enjoying a romantic dinner for two, you can enjoy delicious-tasting foods that are low-in calories and good for you, with just a little forethought and planning.
Here are some easy tips to remember when ordering out that will help you to lose weight even when eating at your favorite restaurants:
1. If you know the menu from the restaurant you're going to, plan what you're going to have ahead of time. This will help save you from making a last minute decision that could result in high-calorie choices.
2. Drink at least one full-glass of water or iced tea before eating your meal. This helps your digestive process, and, because you'll feel full sooner, you will eat less.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for the "senior citizen" special or kid's-sized portions. Most restaurants will accommodate you -- and often you'll pay less as well!
4. Order first. That way you're much less likely to be influenced by the choices of your companions.
5. If you're not sure how something is prepared, don't be afraid to ask. And if the dish is cooked in oil or butter, you can always ask if they have a "fat free" option.
6. If everything on the menu is high in fat or calories, ask if the chef could prepare a plate of fresh fruit and vegetables. Many restaurants offer a vegetarian selection, so if you don't see it on the menu, ask.
7. When ordering meat or fish, ask that it be grilled or broiled, and prepared without oil or butter. (When you eat it, use lemon or herbs and spices to give it flavor rather than heavy sauces).
8. Order an appetizer and a salad as your meal. Or a soup and salad. For dessert, choose fresh fruit.
9. When choosing soup, remember that cream-based soups have many more calories than broth-based ones.
10. If you're having a full meal, split the appetizer and desert with your companion.
11. If you decide to order pasta, tomato sauce has fewer calories than cream-based sauces, just like soup.
12. Choose breadsticks over bread, or if you eat bread, don't add butter. Stay away from muffins and croissants, and choose whole grain over white.
13. Choose steamed vegetables instead of baked potatoes or other starches. Again, use lemon and herbs and spices rather than butter to flavor them with.
14. Whenever possible, eat like the Europeans do, and have your biggest meal at lunchtime. Not only will you save money, but you'll cut down on calories at the same time!
15. Take the time to enjoy your meal. Savor the flavors and textures of your food, and enjoy the company you're with. When you eat slowly, you give your body's internal clock the time it needs to know when you've had enough. When you're full, stop eating. Ask your server to remove your plate so you're not tempted to keep eating while you wait for your companion to finish.
16. Ask for salsa on your baked potatoes, rather than sour cream and butter. Not only is salsa much lower in calories, but it adds a "spicy" flavor to potatoes.
17. Order salad dressings and sauces "on the side." This gives you more control of how much to use. Another tip for salad dressing -- rather than pouring the salad dressing on your salad, dip your fork into the dressing first, and then into the salad. You'll get the same amount of flavor, without all the added calories!
18. Choose brown rice over white rice (or french fries), whole grain breads and rolls over white. Not only are they lower in calories, but they are better for you.
19. Stay away from "all you can eat" buffets and salad bars. It's too easy to lose track of the amount of food you're eating, even when it's salads. If that's your only choice, then stay away from the pasta, marinated salads, cheeses and fruit salads with whipped cream. Stick to soups, raw vegetables and fresh fruits.
20. Have your soup first. It will help to fill you up, and most soups have fewer calories.
21. If you're craving something sweet, and don't want fresh fruit, choose sorbet. If you absolutely HAVE to have the chocolate sauce, use the same trick as you did with the salad dressing -- dip your fork into it first, then your dessert.
22. Split your dessert with your companion. You'll still feel like you got to be indulgent, and you'll only have to exercise half as long to burn off the extra calories!
23. When ordering sandwiches, order them with mustard only, rather than mayonnaise. Not only does mustard have almost no calories, but you won't miss the mayo!
24. If the portion you were served is large, only eat half of it. Take the other half home. Not only will you get two meals for the price of one, but you'll cut the calories in half as well!
25. Go for a walk after eating. Stroll along the beach, walk through a park, visit a zoo. You'll burn calories and get your exercise at the same time!
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.
Emily Clark is editor at lifestyle health news and lifestyle health news where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.
tidy up service Glenview ..Dr. Atkins death was unexpected. On 8 April 2003, he... Read More
You've seen them a hundred times: "Before" and "After" pictures.... Read More
Is this even possible?Well hold on to your seat because... Read More
The following are weight loss tips that you can start... Read More
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More
Do you know the name of that one disease which... Read More
If you are about to begin a diet, the number... Read More
Have you ever experienced this scenario before?"I have successfully lost... Read More
The confusion about eating healthy and dieting will now be... Read More
Some (not so) Silly Diet Tips and Why They're NotAt... Read More
Ever heard of the expression, "Getting up on the wrong... Read More
Have you ever dreaded the idea of pulling weeds, planting... Read More
Weight loss is so consistent and rapid after gastric bypass... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
You have finally decided to tackle weight management and lose... Read More
A client wrote, "Help me! I thought I was finally... Read More
Green tea has been highly valued in Asia for centuries... Read More
Cleansing: How to Kickstart your Alkaline LifestyleDue to the highly... Read More
1. Include in your diet things that contain more water... Read More
One of the greatest tricks that I use to stick... Read More
(But What You Need to Know if You Want to... Read More
Liposuction is also referred to as lipoplasty, suction-assisted lipectomy and... Read More
How to Estimate How Many Calories You Can Have and... Read More
Diet is one of the most controversial subjects around. Bring... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
maid service near Winnetka ..As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
If you want to find a way to lose weight... Read More
When you're taking Phentermine, you should go to the emergency... Read More
According to a recent survey by the National Health Institute,... Read More
Watching television exercises our eyes but nothing else. Unfortunately, it... Read More
It is well known that about two-thirds of the U.S.... Read More
What to Do with the Leftovers?Okay, tell me if you've... Read More
Frankly, I'm puzzled whenever I hear this from somebody who's... Read More
Lose a pound of fat? what does it take? Not... Read More
Our bodies only require a small amount of salt for... Read More
Dieting and Exercising ? Results all the time!To be successful... Read More
Have you ever thought, "I just can not seem to... Read More
A very interesting story was reported recently by WebMD.com. A... Read More
How much will power does it take in order to... Read More
The weight loss protein debate centers around the effectiveness of... Read More
Everyone who has ever been on a diet has hit... Read More
One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. Want to lose... Read More
Addicted to Restaurants Are you addicted to restaurants? So are... Read More
Hoodia Gordonii a cactus plant found thousands of miles away... Read More
You may not like what I have to say, even... Read More
If only we could solve this question, the world (for... Read More
Fifteen years ago the doctor's suggested that we eat pasta... Read More
Today I stopped by my favorite coffee shop in Berkeley,... Read More
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More
My last article, Make Diets Work, concluded that dieting the... Read More
Weight Loss |