Ellen Niemer
It’s always fun to go out to dine. But restaurant menus can be a hidden minefield of calories and fat disguised as “healthy” fare. Learn how to dine out and eat healthy.
It’s easy to eat healthy at home where you can control what you buy, how you cook it, and how big a portion you put on your plate. But too often when we go out to dine, we’re either served gigantic portions that could feed a family of four for a week or we make “healthy” choices that turn out to be heart attacks on a plate.
Salad’s a healthy choice, right? Well ... McDonald’s Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken contains 17 g fat and 970 mg sodium. Wendy’s Apple Pecan Chicken Salad contains 40 g sugar, 27 g fat, and a whopping 1,350 mg sodium. So what’s a health-conscious eater to do?
These 10 tips will ensure that dining out is pleasurable and healthy.
1. Ask for dressing on the side.
This allows you to control how much dressing you use. Choose a simple vinaigrette rather than a creamy ranch dressing.
2. Make veggies your friend (then eat them).
Choose leafy green salads, cooked veggies, and veggie toppings on wraps, sandwiches, and pizza. Maybe one day servers will ask, “Do you want salad with that?”
3. Don’t be so saucy.
Sauces, condiments, and spreads can contain oodles of fat, sodium, and calories. Ask for these on the side, and limit their use.