The Word on Weightloss

Sometimes dining out can be a major pitfall for those of us on a daily diet plan. When we don’t prepare a meal ourselves, we can’t control the ingredients, calories, or portions. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to cut your favorite restaurants out of your weekly routine; instead, read through these healthy tips for dining out and try to put them into practice. Often you’ll find that simply planning ahead will allow you to make healthy food choices even when you’re away from home.

Don’t Be Afraid To Make Requests

Many of us are hesitant to place special orders or requests with the wait staff, but remember, as a paying patron, you have every right to ask for dishes that deviate from the menu. In fact, it is becoming increasingly common for diners to ask for changes that help them meet the guidelines of their daily diet plan. While the chef won’t always be able to accommodate your requests, reasonable changes include having a dish prepared without butter, with the sauce or dressing on the side, or grilled rather than fried. These small modifications can have a huge impact on the overall nutritional content of your meal.

Portion Control

Fight the urge to eat everything on your plate by splitting an entree or designing a healthier meal from a collection of side dishes like a salad and steamed vegetables.

Learn the Buzz Words

We all know that healthier options are often described on a menu as baked, seared, or grilled. But how do you pick out the items that fall at the other end of the spectrum? Avoid ordering anything au gratin, scalloped, Bolognese, or served with hollandaise sauce.

Keep It Simple

One of the best healthy tips for dining out is to cut out the unnecessary toppings. For example, order a basic burger, like those found on the kid’s menu. If you stick to just ketchup, mustard, and vegetables, your burger will total just a few hundred calories. If you order a double burger, or one with bacon, mayo, and cheese, your intake will quickly approach the 1,000 calorie level.

Order a Smart Salad

Salads are often your lowest calorie option for restaurant dining on a daily diet plan. Don’t ruin your effort by eating croutons, bacon bits, or full-fat cheese. Opt for a fat-free dressing or vinaigrette, and always order it on the side. If you simply dip the tines of your fork in the dressing before you take each bite of lettuce, you will get more of the flavor without so many calories and those last few bites at the bottom of the bowl won’t be swimming in creamy dressing.

Moderate Your Drinking

If you’re following a daily diet plan, you’ve probably already cut regular soda and sugary teas or juices from your beverage list. In a perfect world, you’d avoid the calories in adult beverages like beer, wine, and liquor as well. However, a more realistic approach is to alternate and have a glass of water or diet soda after each alcoholic beverage. This will help you to cut down on your liquid calories and will also prevent the food cravings that come from over drinking.

These six healthy tips for dining out are easier to implement than you might expect. Before you know it, you’ll have revamped your habits and feel completely ordering at your favorite restaurant or cafe.