We all know that home cooked meals are often the healthiest way to eat. But we also know that time constraints and a busy, on-the-go lifestyle mean you will often find yourself eating at fast, casual restaurants too.
Having a plan before you eat out and knowing how to order will help you stay on track. Here are some tips to guide you:
1. Order entree salads or shmears. Some salads can get a bad rap if they’re topped with lots of cheese, anything fried or creamy dressing. But if you order lots of veggies, a topping of grilled chicken instead of fried, a light vinaigrette dressing instead of creamy and ask to either hold the cheese or have a light sprinkling of cheese, it can be a delicious, healthy meal. Einstein Bros Bagels is also known for their low-fat shmears of hummus or peanut butter that make a great bagel topping.
2. Try the splits. Another good eating out strategy is to make a plan to split your entrée with someone else. When you think about the fact that the typical restaurant food portion is enough to feed at least a twosome or even more, you realize that you can split and not leave hungry. And if you don’t have any willing “splitters” with you, just ask to have half your entrée brought to you and the rest can be packed up to take home. You will want to consciously slow down your eating to make your meal last longer and to enjoy every bite.
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3. Downsize, don’t supersize. When eating out, you hear a lot about how to supersize your order (for just a few cents more!) but know you can also take charge and downsize your order. Instead of the “Whopper” type hamburger, order a small hamburger; instead of the bowl of soup, order a cup; instead of the foot long sub sandwich, order the 6 inch. Or take advantage of some places like Corner Bakery or Panera Bread that allow you to order half sandwiches. And don’t forget that downsizing can be applied to your drink calories as well.
4. Do your research. Take some time before going to a favorite restaurant to research the menu items and pinpoint some healthy picks. Also, more restaurants are now posting calorie counts and nutritional information online to help you make better choices. For example, Starbucks offers skinny drinks that are less than 100 calories while Applebees has its new “under 550 calories” menu. Cheesecake Factory, known for its high calorie cheesecake and large food portions, now offers “weight management” dishes that are lower in fat and calories than their typical fare.
I hope these four tips will allow you to kick back and relax while you dine out and eat smart at the same time.
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