FitSugar

Are You a High-Maintenance Menu Orderer?

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:47:05 -0800

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. I'm also a fan of sharing entrees and enjoying starters as a main course. Are you high maintenance when it comes to ordering off of restaurant menus?

How Many Meals Do You Eat Out in One Week?

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:47:49 -0700

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. A recent survey on the eating habits of working parents found many were eating take-out meals midday and for dinner. I am curious about you . . . how many meals do you eat out during the week including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am not talking fancy meals at restaurants with linens and candles, but any food that wasn't prepared at home.

Healthy Eating Tip: Bed of Greens Instead of Carbs

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0700

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. To avoid a starchy, buttery side dish, simply ask that your protein be placed on a bed of greens instead. Think steamed kale, chard, spinach, or a raw bed of spinach or salad greens. I'm not saying I avoid those carbs altogether, but eating large portions of them makes me feel grossly full. Not only are the greens less filling, but they offer fiber and so many vitamins and minerals. Plus they add and interesting texture and fresh flavor to the main dish. So the next time you're at a restaurant, as for greens instead of carbs. At the end of the meal, your stomach and waistline will be happy that you did.

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Speak Up: What Are Your Healthy Tricks When Dining Out?

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:00:00 -0700

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. What tricks do you use when dining out?

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5 Fit Food Trends For 2009

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:30:00 -0800

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 kids' meals: We should see more nutritionally balanced children's dishes and side items.
Organic and locally grown produce: The focus on environmentally friendly fruit and vegetables were among the top 20 trendy items.
Bite-sized desserts: Built-in portion control is appealing, particularly for indulgent sweets.
Small plates: It's tough not to overeat when the portion sizes are big, so hopefully the continuation of the small plates trend will help us eat reasonable amounts when we're out.
Sustainable seafood: Animal welfare and environmental concerns have created a greater demand for sustainable fish.

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Healthy Eating Tip: Text Your Food to DIET1

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:00:44 -0700

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. I tried it out (several times) and it's really speedy, not to mention a little addictive. The database covers over 36,000 foods from 1,700 restaurants in North America, so try it out the next time you are dining out.

Until then, see how much you know without the help of your phone with this little calorie quiz on some of our favorite foods.

Healthy Eating Tip: Know Before You Go

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:30:00 -0700

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. Many restaurants offer nutritional information online of their menu items, and for those that don't calorieking.com is a good resource. This way you can do the legwork before you even step into the restaurant. And when you do, it's a lot easier to keep your eye on the ball (aka, your health).

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Portion Distortion: Less Is Not Always More

FitSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 04:30:00 -0700

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?" but with this growth in portion sizes comes an increase in waistlines, body weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart disease. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute has done a little research to put portion sizes of 20 years ago and portion sizes of today in perspective. You'll be surprised to see the differences in sizes as well as in calories.

20 years ago	Today
140 Calories	350 Calories

There's more so read more.

20 years ago	Today
45 Calories	350 Calories
210 Calories	610 Calories
500 Calories	850 Calories
333 Calories	590 Calories

Hopefully the visuals will serve as a little reminder that it's a good idea to scale down the portion sizes you get when eating out. Eat half that bagel. Order a short mocha instead of a tall. Bring half your dinner order home and have it for lunch the next day. There are a lot more interesting comparisons so visit the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to check them out.

Diet Tip: Order Half Sizes

FitSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:00:00 -0700

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." I asked her about how she knew to order a half size and she told me that she always does - restaurants don't typically print half sizes on the menu, but unlike with kids meals many will serve them to you. Sneaky, eh?

I've been trying the half size theory out on my own and it's been hit or miss. I'd say about half of the restaurants I go to serve half sizes. Some just say they don't do half sizes, so you get the regular size meal and take half home, no big deal. But if they do, you're going to be saving yourself a lot of calories and not to mention cash while eating out. To me, it's worth asking.

Do you already order half sizes? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Diet Tip: Don't Underestimate Your Calories

FitSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:00:00 -0700

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. If the bagel is loaded with veggie cream cheese, then probably not so healthy. But do be realistic and pay attention to what you put in your body. Just because it says whole grain and veggies does not always mean it's healthy or low in calories.

With all this in mind, tell me how many nights a week you cook at home.

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