In our society it isn’t abnormal at all to find yourself eating in a restaurant frequently. Most restaurants have healthier options. It is important that you do your research before you go to your chosen restaurant. There might be things on the menu that you think will be healthy but when you find out more about the salad you want to pick you might be surprised what you will find.
Here are a few tips that I have found to help you eat healthier when you eat out:
- Never arrive to the restaurant hungry. Often when you are hungry you will make poor eating decisions that you will regret later.
- Eat an apple before you go to the restaurant. The fiber will make you feel more full and help you control your hunger.
- Drink lots of water instead of soda or alcoholic beverages. Alcohol actually makes you feel hungrier so if you drink water instead it will help you feel fuller.
- Savor your food and enjoy each bite. Don’t just pile the food into your mouth. If you do, you will probably find that you end up stuffed instead of just satisfied.
- Don’t eat anything that you don’t like. Just because it’s on your plate doesn’t mean that you have to eat it. If it is a buffet style restaurant, only take the things that you want to eat and smaller portions.
- Try to only eat half of your plate. You can take the rest home for lunch the next day or let someone else eat it. So many restaurants have such large portion sizes it can get crazy!
- Order first so that you won’t be swayed by anyone else’s decision. If you wait until the end you might decide something that someone else at your table is getting sounds much better, even if it is worse for your waistline.
- Start with a soup or salad. Both of these are lower in calories than most entrees are. If you fill your stomach with these healthier options you will be less likely to stuff yourself with your main dish.
- Try to avoid butter or oil when you are served bread at a restaurant. While bread isn’t the best option of something to fill your stomach with, there is a good chance that it will be better than your entree.
- If you have a choice of a side dish pick something that is not fried and is healthier like steamed vegetables and eat it before you dig in to your main dish.