Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and now want healthy choices whether eating at home or at their favorite restaurants. Luckily, the restaurant industry has been quick to accommodate the demand, so you'll find you have many options to "eat healthy" these days.
Whether you're eating at home or dining out, the same rules for watching your weight apply. You need to eat more vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Choose smaller portions of lean meats, fish and poultry. Eat a variety of foods, and fresh, raw foods are better. Cut back on salt, sugar, saturated fats and alcohol. Drink plenty of water, and include exercise every day as part of your daily lifestyle choice.
So whether you're having lunch with the gang, or enjoying a romantic dinner for two, you can enjoy delicious-tasting foods that are low-in calories and good for you, with just a little forethought and planning.
Here are some easy tips to remember when ordering out that will help you to lose weight even when eating at your favorite restaurants:
1. If you know the menu from the restaurant you're going to, plan what you're going to have ahead of time. This will help save you from making a last minute decision that could result in high-calorie choices.
2. Drink at least one full-glass of water or iced tea before eating your meal. This helps your digestive process, and, because you'll feel full sooner, you will eat less.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for the "senior citizen" special or kid's-sized portions. Most restaurants will accommodate you -- and often you'll pay less as well!
4. Order first. That way you're much less likely to be influenced by the choices of your companions.
5. If you're not sure how something is prepared, don't be afraid to ask. And if the dish is cooked in oil or butter, you can always ask if they have a "fat free" option.
6. If everything on the menu is high in fat or calories, ask if the chef could prepare a plate of fresh fruit and vegetables. Many restaurants offer a vegetarian selection, so if you don't see it on the menu, ask.
7. When ordering meat or fish, ask that it be grilled or broiled, and prepared without oil or butter. (When you eat it, use lemon or herbs and spices to give it flavor rather than heavy sauces).
8. Order an appetizer and a salad as your meal. Or a soup and salad. For dessert, choose fresh fruit.
9. When choosing soup, remember that cream-based soups have many more calories than broth-based ones.
10. If you're having a full meal, split the appetizer and desert with your companion.
11. If you decide to order pasta, tomato sauce has fewer calories than cream-based sauces, just like soup.
12. Choose breadsticks over bread, or if you eat bread, don't add butter. Stay away from muffins and croissants, and choose whole grain over white.
13. Choose steamed vegetables instead of baked potatoes or other starches. Again, use lemon and herbs and spices rather than butter to flavor them with.
14. Whenever possible, eat like the Europeans do, and have your biggest meal at lunchtime. Not only will you save money, but you'll cut down on calories at the same time!
15. Take the time to enjoy your meal. Savor the flavors and textures of your food, and enjoy the company you're with. When you eat slowly, you give your body's internal clock the time it needs to know when you've had enough. When you're full, stop eating. Ask your server to remove your plate so you're not tempted to keep eating while you wait for your companion to finish.
16. Ask for salsa on your baked potatoes, rather than sour cream and butter. Not only is salsa much lower in calories, but it adds a "spicy" flavor to potatoes.
17. Order salad dressings and sauces "on the side." This gives you more control of how much to use. Another tip for salad dressing -- rather than pouring the salad dressing on your salad, dip your fork into the dressing first, and then into the salad. You'll get the same amount of flavor, without all the added calories!
18. Choose brown rice over white rice (or french fries), whole grain breads and rolls over white. Not only are they lower in calories, but they are better for you.
19. Stay away from "all you can eat" buffets and salad bars. It's too easy to lose track of the amount of food you're eating, even when it's salads. If that's your only choice, then stay away from the pasta, marinated salads, cheeses and fruit salads with whipped cream. Stick to soups, raw vegetables and fresh fruits.
20. Have your soup first. It will help to fill you up, and most soups have fewer calories.
21. If you're craving something sweet, and don't want fresh fruit, choose sorbet. If you absolutely HAVE to have the chocolate sauce, use the same trick as you did with the salad dressing -- dip your fork into it first, then your dessert.
22. Split your dessert with your companion. You'll still feel like you got to be indulgent, and you'll only have to exercise half as long to burn off the extra calories!
23. When ordering sandwiches, order them with mustard only, rather than mayonnaise. Not only does mustard have almost no calories, but you won't miss the mayo!
24. If the portion you were served is large, only eat half of it. Take the other half home. Not only will you get two meals for the price of one, but you'll cut the calories in half as well!
25. Go for a walk after eating. Stroll along the beach, walk through a park, visit a zoo. You'll burn calories and get your exercise at the same time!
Online Weight Loss Tips - http://onlineweightlosstips.com - your source for diet and exercise tips.
maide service in Park Ridge ..If you know someone that has been trying to lose... Read More
In the early nineties doctors were beginning to see the... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
The fear of success arises in patients when they realize... Read More
Body Mass Index (bmi) A Misleading measure of ObesityMany professionals... Read More
Have you noticed since your WLS and return to regular... Read More
Have you ever worried about something so much it paralyzed... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Do you know anybody who does not wish to get... Read More
As a woman, your body is very complex. Throughout every... Read More
Many gastric bypass patients report frequent spells of dizziness. In... Read More
April 14, 2005 federal judge Tena Campbell of the federal... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #3) Proper Meal FrequencyMeal Frequency (i.e., the... Read More
Dieting doesn't have to be a chore. Actually, you can... Read More
I am Dr Patrick Flanagan, and this is the latest... Read More
Thinking about weight loss surgery? You're not alone. Over two-thirds... Read More
If you've been enjoying life after gastric bypass surgery you... Read More
The answer to the title of this article is "none."... Read More
Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More
All of us that have had a love-hate relationship with... Read More
There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More
Not losing weight but gaining it is why we are... Read More
It is common for new WLS patients to ask, "How... Read More
In recent years, carbohydrates have been labeled as the nutrition... Read More
Adaptation is the most important concept I teach. The human... Read More
after renovation cleaning Highland Park ..Low Carb diets have become as popular as apple pie... Read More
In 1994, I had a RNY surgery. At 350 lbs... Read More
I was overweight at my age. It's not a pretty... Read More
A very interesting story was reported recently by WebMD.com. A... Read More
If you're on a weight loss program you're under constant... Read More
As our country gains weight at an alarming rate, we... Read More
New studies suggested once again that citric fruits including oranges,... Read More
We think we know everything there is to know about... Read More
Weight loss is so consistent and rapid after gastric bypass... Read More
Hannah was distressed that, with all the inner work she... Read More
Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there... Read More
The best way you can get rid of your pop... Read More
If you have been dieting and haven't lost weight, stop!... Read More
If anyone knows anything about fitness, it's that a low... Read More
WOW!! Here we are on lesson #10. Hasn't it been... Read More
Are you weighted down with delusion, depression and on the... Read More
Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with a Single StepHere are... Read More
Losing weight can make a significant and life altering change... Read More
How to Estimate How Many Calories You Can Have and... Read More
A reader recently wrote to ask why I don't include... Read More
The loss of fat comes from fat cells all over... Read More
Fifteen years ago the doctor's suggested that we eat pasta... Read More
The 3 day diet mixes certain types of foods that... Read More
Weight loss is never easy. Although this is stating the... Read More
Have you ever decided to take a trip somewhere relatively... Read More
Weight Loss |