Be Deliberate About Your Dietary Needs

Also, see MRC Nutritional Guide to Eating Out.

Want to enjoy eating out without blowing your weight plan? Read on and follow the tips provided below. Just because you are managing your weight doesn't mean that you cannot meet others for a quick meal. However, there are healthier options, if you keep these basic rules in mind:

• Order Low-Calorie Beverages - Be aware that alcoholic beverages have hidden calories, stimulate your appetite and weaken your willpower. Instead, order water or sparkling water with a twist of lemon or lime.
• Savor a Healthy Salad - Salads have evolved in all types of restaurants from an appetizer to a suitable entrée. Eating a fresh salad packed with vegetables will help eliminate hunger pangs quicker.
• Beware of Soups - When you eat out, don't be fooled into thinking that a bowl of soup is necessarily healthy. Unless you know it is made fresh, most restaurant soups come in a can and are often spiked with salt, sugar and fats.
• Be Deliberate with Your Order - Just because a food item is listed a particular way on the menu doesn't necessarily mean you have to order it that way. Balance your meal by including healthier selections from multiple food groups.
• Pass on the Buffet - If you are managing your weight, avoid the All-You-Can-Eat buffet. If you don't have a choice, the pick a steamed, grilled or broiled dish and avoid entrées cooked in butter or fried in cooking oil.

Sticking to your menu plan when eating out can be difficult but it is not impossible. Invest the time to determine the healthiest options wherever you choose to eat. Thinking ahead and doing a little research can allow you to know more about the menu items where you intend to eat out. Moreover, never hesitate to be deliberate with your order, especially if you have special dietary needs.

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Although eating out can be tricky when you are on a diet, there are positive signs of progress. In fact, healthy fast food is no longer an oxymoron and most restaurants today offer alternatives that are both healthy and tasty. 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.