The purpose of this article is to highlight several things to consider when trying to maintain a healthy diet while eating out. First and foremost, it is important to understand how the simple act of eating out can add unnecessary calories to your daily intake. Secondly, you should know how to spot high fat cues on menus that give away which foods you should stay away from when trying to eat healthy while at your favorite restaurant. Thirdly, this article will touch briefly on what ethnic food choices are best for someone trying to maintain a healthy diet when eating out.

Eating out can pose many problems for healthy dieters. Certain menu choices can be tempting when it comes to portion sizes. Since many kitchens offer larger than normal portions which, by the way, are less likely to be cooked using low-fat or low calorie cooking methods. The best way to combat eating too many calories when eating out is to become a regular at a given favorite establishment of yours. Doing so allows you to become familiar with the menu items and you will have an easier time identify foods that are lower in fat. Additionally, the staff at such an establishment will get to know you and this can go a long way when you make special requests that fit more in line with your det.

Once you understand the code, many menu descriptions can yield significant (or subtle) clues to the fat and calorie contents of certain dishes. For example, a grande taco salad served in a crispy tortilla shell and topped with sautéed ground beef may sound like a safe choice but there are several words in the description that make it clear this is not the case. Grande, crispy, and sautéed make it clear that this is not a low fat item. As a matter of fact a dish such as this contains about 700 calories. Do you really want to consume upwards of one half of your daily caloric intake in one sitting?

Lastly, I want to discuss tips when eating certain potentially diet unfriendly foods. Although you may think you have to give up certain foods, this may not be necessary. For example, when eating Chinese, just be sure to eat like the Chinese do and make rice the centerpiece of your meal and stay away from anything deep-fried. Hot and spicy Chinese dishes tend to be better for you than deep-fried. When eating from a deli, pay close attention to portion size. Such places tend to overdo portions. Your best bet is to go with a friend and split it. As for fast food places? Stay away from them unless you plan on having the salad.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this short article and that the tips presented provide you with some guidance when trying to eat healthy while eating out. As you can see, simply following a few minor rules can go a long way when trying to eat healthy!

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