Most Restaurants Honor Portion Downsizing

Don’t let enjoying a meal out a restaurant ruin your commitment to living well and eating healthy. By studying menu descriptions, you can usually identify dishes that have a lot of hidden fat and salt. Be aware that your menu choices and eating behaviors can be highly influenced by the choices of others at the table. When eating out, it can be helpful to order first and avoid subconsciously mimicking others without noticing it.

Since it is always best to finish eating your last meal at least two hours before bedtime, opt to dine out earlier for dinner. It will also help you avoid stressful, crowded waits. A study by the USDA concluded eating outside the home a few times per week can lead to weight gain or even obesity. Where it is true restaurants often serve large portions and use more butter and cream, you can control your food choices.

Choosing a restaurant that is better suited for your goals of living well can make it easier to navigate dining out. Try following these tips to ensure you pick from the best food options:

• Plan in Advance – If you have questions about the ingredients or preparation method used for any option you are considering, ask your server. Most restaurants today will accommodate substitutions and special requests.
• Stay Hydrated – As long as you take it slowly, drinking water before or during your meal has no known digestive downsides. Water is absorbed in the stomach fairly quickly and does not hamper enzyme activity or interfere with digestion of food.
• Ask for Substitutions – Three helpful substitutions include asking your server to take away the bread or chip basket, to serve your salad with dressing on the side, and to request an appetizer portion of your entrée.
• Order Colorful Foods – Although colorful fruits and vegetables are healthy, depending upon how they are prepared, they are not necessarily low in calories. Go lighter on starchy vegetables like corn and limit sugary fruits like raisins. Steaming and grilling is better for you than frying or sautéing.

Dining out doesn't have to cause you to lose control of your plans for healthy eating. If you follow smart eating strategies, you can become very adept at selecting the best menu items and right-sized portions. Most restaurants today honor portion downsizing. Moreover, when you ask for smaller portions of the bad food items, you may end up getting a larger helping of good food on your plate. Saving your appetite for dining out may result in overeating.

During this stressful time of year, studies have shown that people who eat a healthy breakfast and lunch tend to consume fewer total calories. Our team of experienced MRC coaches will be there to support you every step of the way as you work to establish healthy eating habits to follow when preparing meals in your kitchen or dining out with friends and family. Get started today!.