Ever wonder how you can lose weight when the average dinner contains over 1,000 calories? Well, don’t fret! Keeping yourself in shape when dining out simply means ordering the right card.
Below are six tips for having a healthy dinner out (while still enjoying your meal like normal!):
Watch Your Drinks
By not ordering an alcoholic beverage, you’ve saved yourself many calories. Try sipping iced tea sweetened with a noncaloric sweetener, a diet soft drink, or water with lemon. You’ll be glad you did when you look at the calorie savings.
Have A Salad
One of the best menus is a salad. Not only will it fill you up, and then you’ll consume fewer calories overall, but it will also give you a hefty dose of heart-healthy antioxidants. Be sure to ask your waitress to hold the croutons and cheese, reducing your caloric load. Also, choose your dressing wisely. Avoid cream-based sauces and go for vinegar-based ones. You, too, can use vinegar and olive oil, which are heart-healthy.
Don’t Order An Appetizer Unless Necessary
Do some appetisers have more calories and fat than the main track? Plus, many appetisers are fried and served with heavy sauces, adding to your intake of saturated fat, trans fats and calories. It’s not a healthy way to start your meal.
Choose The Right Kind Of Foods
Go for broiled and grilled rather than fried. Not only will you save calories and fat grams, you’ll also avoid trans fats, which are so prevalent in fried foods. Instead, consider asking for a double order of vegetables with your entree. Few Americans are getting the 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended for optimal health. Plus, by avoiding the starch, you’ll be cutting your caloric and carbohydrate load.
Also, stick to tomato-based sauces rather than cream-based ones, and you’ll enjoy considerable calorie savings. Lastly, ask for the sauce to be served in a separate dish on the side so you can moderate the amount you eat.
Don’t Overeat
Today, many restaurants are serving larger quantities of food than in the past. If this is the case, put aside a share of your entrée at the beginning of the meal to take home with you. If you remove it from your plate before you start eating, you’ll be less tempted to overeat.
Say “No” To Sugary, Fatty Desserts
Instead, opt for a low-fat or low-carbohydrate dessert selection, such as a soft-carb cheesecake. These choices are beneficial for health-conscious individuals and still provide a sweet finish to your meal. If a healthy dessert option isn’t available, try a cup of coffee with skim milk to help satiate your desire for something sweet.
The next time you go out for dinner, keep the above tips in mind. You will be surprised how many calories you can slash out of your meal just by putting the proper menus! Happy, healthy eating!
