Eating a Salad Is Always a Healthy Option for Dining Out

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Also, see MRC Nutritional Guide to Eating Out.

When it is time to eat out, there are numerous options to soggy fast food loaded with tons of wasted calories. Although bad choices can live on the fanciest of menus, most restaurants have gotten on board to offer at least a few healthy options. When it comes to grabbing a bite of food, fast does not have to mean unhealthy. Most fast food chains, food trucks and coffee shops are offering healthy alternatives but follow these tips for making smart decisions:

• Opt for Healthy Liquids - Sugary drinks or alcohol can cause eating out to become a weight management nightmare. To be safe, choose either a no-calorie beverage or one that brings some nutritional value to the meal.
• Never Hesitate to Substitute - Many restaurants honor requests to help you meet your nutritional needs, so don't hesitate to ask. A side salad with a weight-friendly vinaigrette dressing on the side, so you can control the portion side, is a smart choice.
• Control the Portions You Eat - Restaurants nowadays serve huge portions that are sometimes enough for two or three people. Avoid the clean your plate mentality and bring leftovers home for another meal.
• Eat a Salad - Eating a salad is a healthy tip for dining out, since virtually every type of restaurant nowadays offers a side. If you need a bigger meal, add grilled chicken or seafood as your protein.
• Cut Back on Condiments - Always taste your food before adding salt, butter, sauces and dressings, then substitute healthier choices, such as mustard for mayonnaise; or lemon juice for salt; or a spice mix in place of a sauce or gravy.

If you are hungry when you arrive at a restaurant, it is easier to order questionable foods, or eat too much food. Eating a healthy snack like a plain Greek yogurt about an hour beforehand will leave you feeling more sated. Salads are a great tell of a kitchen's attention to detail, as it is hard to hide bad ingredients. Nevertheless, avoid creamy or calorie-filled dressings by opting for a citrus-based vinaigrette instead.

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You should never feel terrible about dining out. Download the Tips For Eating Out guidelines from the National Institute of Health and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for additional advice on eating at franchise food chains. Making smart choices always pays dividends.