Healthy Eating at a Restaurant: Is it Possible?
If you and your family love to eat at restaurants, you may think that this lifestyle is not good for a healthy diet. In most cases, you would be correct. But you can still eat at restaurants and maintain your healthy diet. It all begins at making good food choices, learning about the nutrition you need to be physically and mentally healthy, stable and most of all happy.
When you pick up the menu, start by skipping the beverage section. Even though you may be tempted to enjoy a beer or mixed drink with your dinner, these drinks are loaded with empty calories, which is not good for your body. When it comes to alcohol, there’s an exception to the rule, which is red wine. A single glass of red wine can actually help prevent heart disease for some patients.
The appetizer menu is another item to skip over, unless it’s over to a side salad. Restaurant appetizers are usually high in fat that are not meant to fill you up. As a matter of fact, it can make you crave even more high fat foods. Examples of these are mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and wings. Focus on your main course, but if you must indulge, share a single serving with the entire table of people.
When you’re choosing your main dish, make sure you look at the ingredients of the dish. Cream sauces, high-fat meats, potatoes or onion rings should be avoided. Instead choose side dishes like vegetables or just ask for the main course when possible. Also, remember that portion is everything.
Another tip, order off the lunch menu whenever possible and ask for a doggie bag right. Split the meal in half right away, so you’re not tempted to overindulge and eat the entire thing, which is usually enough for two or three portions. At the end of your meal, skip over the dessert menu. But you can share a single dessert with the entire table if feel compelled to something or split your portion in half.
Of course, on special occasions, it’s alright to cheat a little, but overall healthy eating requires lots of resisting temptation around you.
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Nicola - Divorce CoachFebruary 26, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Good thoughts. I find it easy to just think and say “I don’t eat that”, it makes it easy in a restaurant and it makes it easy in the supermarket.
Promotional PrintingFebruary 26, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Your really make a lot of sense, it really depends on what type of food you’ll eat. Checking on what ingredients on the menu will really help you choose a healthier meal. Good job with your blog!
diyworkoutsFebruary 27, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Advice I’ve recently received was to ask for the nutritional value of the menu. A lot of restaurants nowadays make this easily available. They also usually go one step further by pointing out healthy meal options on the menu. That’s a great place to start and really takes some of the guesswork out.
lovelicanteFebruary 27, 2010 at 11:59 pm
wonderful,thank u for share
Carson Rose and AssociatesFebruary 28, 2010 at 12:45 am
it really depends on what type of food you’ll eat. Checking on what ingredients on the menu will really help you choose a healthier meal. Good job with your blog!
How To Get A Quick 6 PackFebruary 28, 2010 at 1:17 am
Thanks for these great information. I always stick with homely foods and if I have to eat something from a restaurant, I go for chicken breasts.
Ken RiceMarch 1, 2010 at 10:42 am
Although I think counting points and/or calories is a little too much, we do have to pay attention to the types of foods we choose, as well as the amount of food we eat.
We do have less control over what we eat on a restaurant, but that’s no excuse for poor eating habits. That’s what I think.
antonyMarch 2, 2010 at 2:41 am
One can take a health diet at restaurants by choosing the good food and learning about the nutritious food that suits their health and body. Ways of choosing such good food and learning fat weight loss tips would help people to maintain a healthy life.
weight loss is it possible ?March 3, 2010 at 1:38 am
this blog really makes some sense. i see people going to the reasuaturent and order for something really fatty.. they dont count the amount of calorie that they consume from.. deep fireid stuffs. but i think should be aware of the fact and should ask for fat free diets.
Vancouver personal trainingMarch 3, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I think it’s important to note that when you’re on a diet you need to plan for periodic breaks. These breaks are indivdual dependant but I think 2x/week is good. This has both physiological and psychological benefits as it will help keep the diet moving forward. I don’t beleive this has any negative consequences for the weight loss but can be abused. Many dieters will choose to eat out as their “free meal” and this is fine if they use the recommendations found in the article.
Smart LipoApril 19, 2010 at 2:48 am
It is not advisable to eat at a restaurant frequently.I like your suggestions while eating at a restaurant.Now I will consider these suggestions for future.It is good that you have described with all examples of foods.