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5 Tips To Eat Healthy At Restaurants

Don't let a nice tempting restaurant meal derail your efforts to maintain a healthy diet. Follow my simple restaurant-healthy-eating tips to see how it's doable and delicious to eat healthy while dining out!

 

Food served in restaurants is usually designed to please the senses and the stomach. As a result, nutritional value sometimes can be sacrificed in favor of presentation, flavor, and aroma. This is especially true when dishes are laden with oil or rich gravies, salads with creamy vinaigrette, and there are few options for whole grains, fruits, or vegetables.


Follow these tips to eat healthy at restaurants while staying on track with your diet. Keep reading!

 

1-  Scan The Menu

Scan the menu for keywords that indicate what to avoid. Deep-fried, scalloped, cream, or dipped in a sauce: these words guarantee that the meals will be high in fat and calories. Select grilled, roasted, boiled, or steam-cooked meat, seafood, or vegetables, and avoid heavy sauces. Pick whole grains and fruits. This helps you save calories!

2-  Look At Portion Sizes

Restaurant portions are often larger than how much we should eat, so try to share your meal or take a portion of it home and eat the next day, so you eat less. Even if you cannot control the contents of your food, you can manage the quantity.

3-  Ask For More Vegetables

The majority of restaurants are receptive to customers' needs. Swapping up starchy carbs like pasta, rice, or potatoes for steamed/roasted veggies is a quick and easy way to cut calories and fat while also getting more nutrition.

When ordering, request a double or treble serving of vegetables and offer to pay more.

4-  Avoid The Fancy Drinks

Avoid alcohol and go for fresh juices, shakes, and smoothies. If you really want to drink an alcoholic beverage, try to avoid Pina Coladas, margaritas, and other fancy mixed drinks. They contain sweet additives that contribute significantly to the calorie count and processed sugars and flavors.

Instead, pick a glass of a light beer or wine, atonic, or vodka. Your healthy eating objectives will benefit from these choices.


 

5-  Don't Be Shy To Ask

Do not be embarrassed to ask the server to assist you in making your meal more nutritious. For example, you could have a salad with your meal instead of fries or chips. You can also request that foods be made with less oil or butter, that the breadbasket be removed, salad be served with dressing on the side, and that an appetizer portion of the main meal be requested.

Final Tips

Before you head out to eat, search out "healthy food near me" and look up the online menu. This way, you'll be prepared to make a quick decision on your meal. Benefit from this win-win situation!

If you love eating out, don't assume you have to give it up to maintain your health. With some planning and smart adjustments, you may order foods just as healthy as those prepared at home.


Photo by Vincent Rivaud from Pexels

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