1. Order More Vegetables- order double veg or replace the white potato, fried anything or rice side dishes with veggies.
2. Use Lighter Cooking Methods. Order your foods steamed, broiled or grilled instead of creamed, pan-fried or scalloped. Hone in on the preparation description and order accordingly. Many chefs will prepare your food with less or no added fat when asked. Remember Lots of restaurants add butter and oil to their vegetables so I ask about that too.
3. Refuse the Bread Basket. I don’t know about you but the temptation to eat the bread (or chips at a Mexican restaurant) is too great. Instead ask the server to not bring it and skip the stress. Oh, and all I care about is the bread or the chips then I don’t order a whole dinner so I can save my calories for what I want= GUAC and chips!
4. Drink Water. Order water and start sipping right away. Maybe that hunger is really thirst? Even if it isn’t you’ll be drinking no calories as opposed to sugary drinks and alcohol which can be a lot of empty calories.
5. Split the Food. Many restaurants offer portion sizes that are too big for most of us. If you’re dining at one of these either split the entree with a dining companion or put half away in a to go box right away. I do that ALL the time. Then I have lunch the next day!
6. Eat a small healthy snack Before Going Out. Try a piece of fruit, some nuts or some vegetables dipped in hummus an hour or so before you leave for the restaurant. This way You are not “starving” when ordering and more likely to make good choices.
7. Order On the Side. Order all dressings, sauces and gravies on the side or go without. You can order your food without these additions or if you want a taste ask for them on the side. Most restaurants use too much, And it turns a salad in to something that has as many calories as a double cheeseburger.
8. Substitute. Grilled chicken has way less calories than steak. If you want steak, order healthier sides or condiments. Use salsa instead of butter on that baked potato or lemon on your fish instead of sauce.
9. Skip the Entree. Make a meal out of a healthy appetizer and a salad. You’ll eat lighter and for less money.
10. Enjoy the Conversation. If you’re busy interacting with your dining companions then you’re not stuffing your mouth. Eating slowly will keep you from getting full before your stomach sends the signal.
11.Research the menu before you go and check out the restaurant’s menu online. It gives you time to assess if there are healthy menu options, and, if there isn’t, and you really want to, you can call the restaurant ahead of time to see if it can make any modifications to its menu for your diet. Then you know before you go.
12.Be careful with what you drink! If extra calories are a concern for you, skip soda, cocktails, and wine, and opt for water instead. But, if you like to imbibe on a night out, it’s definitely possible to order a drink that falls right around 150 calories (or in some cases, under!). To keep drink calories to a minimum, choose wine or beer, or a cocktail made without a lot of added sugar, fruit juice, or soda.
