Ever wonder how you can lose weight when the average dinner out contains over 1,000 calories? Well, don’t fret! Keeping yourself in shape when dining out is simply a matter of 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 a considerable number of 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, which will further reduce 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 is heart-healthy.
Don’t Order An Appetizer Unless Necessary – Do you know that some appetizers have more calories and fat than the main track? Plus, many appetizers are fried and served with heavy sauces, which will add to your intake of saturated fat and 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 alone 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 entree 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, endure for low fat or low carbohydrate dessert selection such as a soft carb cheesecake. These are wise choices for the health-conscious eater and still allow you to end the meal on a sweet note. 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!
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