Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars eating out at their favorite restaurants. While we usually remember to bring our appetites, most the time our better judgment gets left at home, as we feast on appetizers and entrées that aren’t especially healthy. Fortunately, regularly going to restaurants doesn’t have to result in an expanding waistline. By following the proceeding tips for eating out, you can enjoy delicious meals without packing on extra weight.
Don’t Let Your Eyes See Bigger Than Your Stomach – See if this sounds familiar; you order some delicious item off the menu, and soon are facing a large plate with a king-sized meal on top of it. Instead of acting rationally and only eating some of this serving, many patrons think with their stomach instead, and try and finish their meal in one sitting. Even if you manage to eat everything on your plate, chances are you’re going to feels stuffed and sleepy after eating so much food.
Instead of trying to eat too much food too soon, try making a conscious effort to only partially finish your meal. You can then simply take the remaining food home in a doggy bag (technically, you’ll probably get a Styrofoam box, but your food should still survive the ride home intact.)
No to French Fries, Yes To Veggies – While order our main meals, we usually don’t pay much attention to our options for side dishes. Consequentially, many patrons wind up getting servings of French fries and butter-soaked mashed potatoes, and consume more calories and fat than they bargained for. In lieu of these unhealthy stowaways, ask for a salad or serving of veggies instead.
Little Healthy Adjustments Go a Long Way – Another problem with eating out is that it’s very easy to lose track of what you’re eating and drinking. During the span of a few hours, you may treat yourself to two glasses of soda, add extra butter to your steak and pour calorie-dense dressing on your salad. Eventually, all of these choices start to add up, along with your calorie intake. Pay close attention to what you order and eat during the meal, and make sure to limit the bad stuff.
Don’t Take the Low Carb Bait – In recent years, many restaurants have begun to offer so-called “low carb” foods on their menus. A good number of consumers order such items, completely unaware that they might be brimming with fat and calories. Instead of putting for faith in slickly designed menus, do your research beforehand on the nutritional value (or lack thereof) of low carb appetizers and entrées.
Don’t forget about Water – When it comes to drinks, most restaurant patrons tend to throw caution to the wind. Children and teenagers ask for refill after refill of soda, while their parents enjoy the various beers and alcoholic beverages found on the menu. While it may be hard to resist such drinks while eating out, consider trading in a few unhealthy beverages for some glasses of water. Drinking water will help you eat your food at a slower rate. This refined pace allows your stomach to tell your brain that it’s full, thereby preventing you from overeating.
Potatoes are Fine – Depending on What’s On Them – Don’t make the assumption that restaurant potatoes are bad for your health. In fact, they can actually be relatively healthy as long as you refrain from dosing them with fat-filled butter or sour cream. Instead, cover your potatoes with heaps of veggies, which are often readily available at the salad bar.
Know What to Look For on the Menu – Often times, appetizers and entrées with unhealthy ingredients are hiding in plain site on the menu. Of course, such items won’t be surrounded with neon “warning” signs, but they can easily be identified if you know what to look for. The next time you eat out, look for these “red flag” items on the menu:
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What are such items so bad for you? The answer is simple; these menu items are often loaded up with calories, saturated and trans fats, three common enemies of a flat stomach.
You shouldn’t have to choose between enjoying yourself and eating healthy when eating at restaurants. By carefully watching what you order and eat, you can have a good time eating out without sticking your body with a hefty tab.
The proceeding article was written by an employee of Natural Knowledge 24/7.
