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.
professional maid services Park Ridge ..If you're trying lose weight, maintain your weight, or sculpt... Read More
Getting started on an exercise program is one thing. Staying... Read More
Have you ever dreaded the idea of pulling weeds, planting... Read More
Get to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants... Read More
As I become acquainted with many of our LivingAfterWLS.com community... Read More
As a woman, your body is very complex. Throughout every... Read More
You are probably familiar with the weight loss connection with... Read More
The best way you can get rid of your pop... Read More
With the number of people suffering from obesity rising so... Read More
Green Tea Also Has Anticancer PropertiesGreen tea, which has been... Read More
A question from one of our readers:Dr. Mericle,With respect to... Read More
When you begin the decision making process to have Weight... Read More
Adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet... Read More
Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you... Read More
Today's society is about speed. We no longer have to... Read More
That's a pretty "in your face" statement, but really it's... Read More
The cost of gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric surgical... Read More
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, writing... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
What is a mini tummy tuck? Officially called a partial... Read More
What to Do with the Leftovers?Okay, tell me if you've... Read More
WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness... Read More
The Zone Diet as a weight loss program has been... Read More
I know, I know. What a crazy question!Considering that we've... Read More
Experts tell us that overweight or obese children have reached... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Diets, diets, diets... every where you go, anything you read... Read More
As our bodies move from Winter into Spring we can... Read More
More than 70% of US adults are overweight and that... Read More
A startling fact is that carbohydrates are not responsible for... Read More
Ready for a hardcore diet to get lean in a... Read More
It is very important for low carb dieters to stick... Read More
The only way you will ever follow through on an... Read More
Weight loss, diets and "carbs" are common household topics. There... Read More
It has been 15 years since I was diagnosed with... Read More
The Sour Truth -------------------------- Question: I had a baby 6... Read More
Weight loss is an issue that affects men and women... Read More
We all know that losing weight and improving your overall... Read More
Yoga is wonderful for nurturing a state of mental and... Read More
The very first thing you want to do before you... Read More
- Are your ideas of obesity and fat control based... Read More
It is estimated that about 32 million Americans are following... Read More
Have you ever wondered with all the weight loss programs... Read More
When most people think of low carb diets they automatically... Read More
In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime.... Read More
How would you like to eat all you want and... Read More
One Reality TV show, The Swan, thrives on makeovers. Often... Read More
Ever notice how your best friend can lose weight on... Read More
If you are a mom at home on a diet,... Read More
The vast majority of postpartum women will not return to... Read More
Obesity, especially in children, is a matter of rapidly growing... Read More
Weight Loss |