Healthy Choices at Restaurants

One of the joys of socializing is finding a great place to eat out. But what if you’re trying to eat healthy? Believe it or not, you CAN find healthy options on a restaurant menu! I’m Wendy Corr, and in today’s wellness tip, I’ll give you some guidelines for staying on track while you eat out.
When you’re first trying to make healthy eating choices, going out to eat seems like a sure fire way to blow your food plan. But it doesn’t have to be! By making a few adjustments, and if you’re not afraid to ask for modifications, it’s easy to stay on track when going out with friends.
First, don’t be afraid to ask for your order “Your Way.” If an item is fried, ask for it to be grilled. If it comes with fries, ask for veggies instead!
And skip the bread basket – if you feel like munching on something before you order, ask the server to bring you a side of raw vegetables.
Because many times a side of vegetables at a restaurant is just that – a side, ask for three or four times the amount, and offer to pay extra. You’ll get full, not fat!
Be sure to ask how the food was prepared. And don’t trust that an item on the light menu is actually “light” – it may be light in calories, but it may include ingredients that aren’t on your food plan, for example, if you’re staying away from gluten or dairy.
Be careful about choosing items that are labeled “low-carb.” That doesn’t mean they are low-calorie! Often a lowcarb entrée is packed with fat.
A good tip is to ask for the server to box up half your entrée before it ever gets to the table, or split it with your friends. We often feel pressured to clean our plates, even if the servings are more than we normally would eat.
Order a salad before ordering anything else. If you eat a big veggie salad, you’re likely to eat less of a higher calorie main course. But remember – light on the dressing! Salad dressings can pack on the calories and fat and sabotage an otherwise healthy meal. Dipping your fork in the dressing and then loading up on a mouthful of crunchy veggies is a great way to get the flavor without the calories.
And when it comes to choosing entrees, pay attention to the description. If it’s breaded, creamy, crisp, sauced or stuffed, it’s probably loaded with hidden fats that are most likely not on your food plan.
Thanks for tuning in to Wellness with Wendy! I’m a certified holistic nutritionist, a mom, an entertainer and a radio personality – so finding balance is the key to my life. I love sharing tips and tricks to help you live your best life – so for more health and wellness news and advice, follow my blog on mybighornbasin.com. See you again next time for Wellness with Wendy!