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Eating out
Are You a High-Maintenance Menu Orderer?
The more concerned I get about healthy eating, the more I start to sound like Sally Albright in When Harry Met Sally. The charming neurotic played by Meg Ryan makes endless substitutions when ordering off menus; as Harry points out, "'on the side' is a very big thing for you."
I confess, I'm also a big "on the side" person.
How Many Meals Do You Eat Out in One Week?
I love a home cooked meal, but sometimes I just cannot muster the energy to tackle making a meal — especially on Monday night when there are no leftovers. Cooking your own food not only saves you calories, but it saves you money as well. An easy win/win.
Healthy Eating Tip: Bed of Greens Instead of Carbs
Going out for a nice dinner doesn't mean you can't have a healthy meal. Many restaurants are amenable to diners' needs, and you can make sure your plate is full of foods you want and need to eat.
Fish, chicken or meat dishes are usually served on an enormous portion or rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta.
Speak Up: What Are Your Healthy Tricks When Dining Out?
Going out to eat is meant to be fun, but when you're trying to watch your waistline, the experience can be more overwhelming than anything. While it's true that healthy eating is much easier when you dine at home, you shouldn't deny yourself the occasional pleasure of eating at your favorite restaurants. Before hitting up one of my personal faves for a relaxing meal made by someone else, I remind myself of little tricks to make good choices.
5 Fit Food Trends For 2009
Dining out has been known to sabotage many waistlines, so I was more than happy to discover that several of the predicted restaurant trends for 2009 may help us control our calorie intake while eating out. The American Culinary Federation surveyed 1,600 chefs for their take on what we'll see more of on menus this year, and some of the hottest trends are focused on nutrition and health. Here are some of the healthful themes I'm excited to see develop and expand in 2009.
Healthy Eating Tip: Text Your Food to DIET1
Deciding what you want to eat at a restaurant can be hard, especially when nutritional information is not easily accessible. In situations like this, just send a text message to DIET1 (34381). Include the restaurant and the menu item in your message, and the service will respond with a text containing the information you requested.
Healthy Eating Tip: Know Before You Go
I love eating out as much as the next girl. The problem is that I always head into a restaurant, deli or fast food joint with the healthiest intentions and often get derailed by the unhealthy options calling my name when I am deciding what I want. One way I avoid the temptation is by going in knowing what I want ahead of time.
Portion Distortion: Less Is Not Always More
Food portions have gotten larger over the years. From "super size," to "all you can eat" most food portions are enough to feed at least two or three people. You may be thinking, "So what?"
Diet Tip: Order Half Sizes
I have recently been introduced to a new phenomenon while eating out that can help all of us keep to a healthy diet: half sizes.
I was eating out with my girlfriend and she orders the grilled glazed salmon but then adds, "Oh, and I'd like the half size please." Being that I did not see half sizes on the menu anywhere, I was shocked when the waiter answered, "Sure thing."
Diet Tip: Don't Underestimate Your Calories
If you spend a lot of time eating out, then be realistic about how many calories you think you're consuming. MSNBC reported on a recent study that found we all tend to underestimate how many calories we're eating when eating out — by 93 percent!
If you're eating something that seems like it is healthy, like a whole grain bagel with a thin layer of veggie cream cheese, then it probably is.
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