Yes it is true, eating out at a restaurant doesn’t have to be unhealthy and doesn’t have to ruin your healthy diet plan. All you need to do is remember and stick to a few simple pointers.
First, eat a light dinner if you ate a big lunch that day or if you know that you are going to eat out, then have a light salad for lunch and try to eat your dinner no later than 6pm. If you also help if you can go for a walk around the town right after your dinner. Or, if you know ahead of time that you’re going to a restaurant at a later time than 6pm, then check the menu before you get there, plan which meal you are going to have which is ideally a lighter meal.
Planning ahead makes a huge difference. It is almost a way for your brain to remember that you are going to eat light when you are out on the town. Even if you don’t succeed at first, try and try again. Sooner or later it becomes a habit and you can stick to it.
If you are meeting friends then it is harder to choose a place but if you are going out with your partner then it is easier to consider which restaurant you are going to and makes it even more possible to choose meal options that are healthy at your chosen restaurant. When choosing a restaurant, look for restaurants or diners that offer a wide range of dishes and menu items. Again, it is ideal to check online and visit that restaurant’s website to see their dinner menu and, if available, for nutrition information ahead of time. Some restaurants are now providing nutritional and calorie information about their main dishes.
When you are at your chosen restaurant, stick to your plan and order what you had planned. If your chosen dish is not available then balance your meal by including healthier selections from all the different food groups such as lean protein foods, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. One major way to stick to a healthy diet is to avoid sodas. Sodas are full of calories and sugar or even worse, high fructose corn syrup.
Try to fill yourself up with as much freshly made, organic if possible, entrée salads that are healthy, full of nutrition, and you can add prawns or meat to these and avoid carbs and in particular bread if possible. To make it even more delicious, consider adding avocado, walnuts, tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, relish, fresh salsa, or even grilled seafood.
Keep it fun, keep it healthy and whatever you do try to order things that you would enjoy and is healthy at the same time. That is the key to success.