5 Tips for Dining Out and Eating Healthily

Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant meal has over 1,000 calories? That's enough to blow any healthy eating plan. Fortunately, by following a few simple guidelines, you can dine out without having to sacrifice good taste and nutrition.

1. Avoid ordering an appetizer. It's a little known fact that some appetizers have more calories and fat than the main course. Plus, many appetizers are fried and served with heavy sauces which will add to your intake of saturated fat as well as trans fats and calories. It's not a healthy way to start your meal.

2. Say "yes" to salad. Salad is a healthy eater's best friend. Not only will it fill you up so you'll consume fewer calories overall, but it will also give you a hefty dose of antioxidants which are heart healthy. 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 dressings and go for the vinegar based ones. You also have the option of using vinegar and olive oil which is heart healthy.

3. Make the right entree selection. 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 doubles order of vegetables with your entree. Very few Americans are getting the 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended for optimal health. Plus, by avoiding the starch, you'll be reducing your caloric and carbohydrate load. Also, stick to tomato based sauces rather than cream based and you'll enjoy a considerable calorie savings. Lastly, ask for the sauce to be served in a separate dish on the side so you can control the amount you eat.

4. Think about what you're drinking with your meal. 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 consider the calorie savings.

5. Indulge your sweet tooth wisely. Many of the chain restaurants now offer a low fat or low carbohydrate dessert selection such as a low 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.

6. Learn to control your portions. Many restaurants are serving larger quantities of food than in the past. If this is the case, put aside a portion 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 overindulge.

By following these steps, you can make your dining experiences not only healthy, but enjoyable. Your heart will thank you!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

---

Google News Updated : Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:48:34 GMT Ask.com Sails into Semantic Search to Differentiate from Google - eWeek BBC News Ask.com Sails into Semantic Search to Differentiate from Google eWeek - 1 hour ago By Clint Boulton Ask.com's search engine market share is minimal at best, but the company keeps on plugging away in application development to keep from being extinguished by Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. Ask.com Amps Up Search Again Wired News Ask.com, now with more answers CNET News BBC News - Search Engine Land - Computerworld - Profy all 21 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:04:07 GMT For Some Animals, There's No Place at Home - U.S. News & World Report Canada.com For Some Animals, There's No Place at Home U.S. News & World Report - 1 hour ago By Amanda Gardner MONDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Exposing your children to the joys of pet ownership may, in some cases, also mean exposing them to infections and injuries. Keep Kids From Exotic Animals, Docs Say NewsNet5.com Doctors: No hamsters or exotic pets for young kids The Associated Press WRCB-TV - Reuters South Africa - The Press Association all 291 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:06:44 GMT Obama accuses McCain of looking for distractions - CNN Los Angeles Times Obama accuses McCain of looking for distractions CNN - 19 hours ago (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday charged that Sen. John McCain's campaign is launching "Swift boat-style attacks" on him instead of addressing the country's problems. Health Care: Coverage -- But at What Price? WIS Health Care Destruction New York Times Los Angeles Times - BlueRidgeNow.com - Chicago Tribune - Wall Street Journal Blogs all 1,314 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:30:50 GMT PGA -- 2008 Turning Point Championship Recap - Pro Fantasy Sports SkySports PGA -- 2008 Turning Point Championship Recap Pro Fantasy Sports - 41 minutes ago Hello in the second of the “Fall Finishâ€� series, a unknown rookie birdied the 72 nd hole to earn a hefty paycheck and a spot on the PGA tour for the next two years. Johnson earns first win at Turning Stone Sports Network Rookie posts first victory San Francisco Chronicle WFIE-TV - Chicago Tribune - PGA Tour all 293 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:07:14 GMT Angelina Jolie Debuts New Movie and New Ink - Actress Archives MTV UK Angelina Jolie Debuts New Movie and New Ink Actress Archives - 39 minutes ago Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt recently attended the movie premiere for Jolie’s new film “The Changelingâ€� directed by Clint Eastwood, and the film wasn’t the only thing on display. Video: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at Premiere AssociatedPress Angelina Jolie’s New Tattoo MTV UK eFluxMedia - First Coast News - ChattahBox - hecklerspray all 402 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:09:31 GMT Postseason ace Beckett shelled as Angels win 5-4 - The Associated Press The Associated Press Postseason ace Beckett shelled as Angels win 5-4 The Associated Press - 37 minutes ago BOSTON (AP) - Josh Beckett waited four extra days for a chance to show his postseason brilliance. That shine wore off with his very first pitch. Video: Angels, White Sox Each Force a Game 4 AssociatedPress Red Sox's injuries could prove costly vs. Angels FOXSports.com Boston Globe - MLB.com - Newsday - Boston Herald all 2,381 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:11:21 GMT Mammals facing extinction threat - BBC News Canada.com Mammals facing extinction threat BBC News - 2 hours ago By Richard Black At least 25% of the world's mammal species are at risk of extinction, according to the first assessment of their status for a decade. Many, many mammals face extinction Los Angeles Times One Quarter of World's Mammals Face Extinction Scientific American Washington Post - Daily Green - eFluxMedia - Boston Globe all 194 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:37:47 GMT Clickbank Datafeed Get Paid for Surveys

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Glycemic Index of Foods

All carbohydrates are not the same. Generally it is assumed... Read More

Unchaining Yourself from an Unhealthy Food Addiction

The cry of "I have no willpower!" often emerges from... Read More

How Does Glucosamine Chondroitin Help Your Body?

Glucosamine is readily produced in the human body and is... Read More

Understanding Vegetarianism

Like the Sun, Moon, and Earth, there are three kinds... Read More

The Most Effective Treatments for Acid Reflux Disease

Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More

How To Get Fit And Slash Your Health Insurance Costs

Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More

Magnesium Deficiency Causes Personality Change and WLS Patients are at Risk

Have you ever felt like you were completely losing your... Read More

Aging Gracefully with the Aid of Various Nutrients

During the past thirty years there has been a steadily... Read More

16 Quick Tips for Eating at Restaurants or Work

Most of us eat at restaurants for a variety of... Read More

Sugar, America?s Drug of Choice

Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More

The Importance of Water

Water is the most abundant substance in the human body.... Read More

Water And Good Hydration

The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More

Is Chocolate A New Health Food?

Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually... Read More

Improve Your Eating Habits.

1. Water. If you're thirsty you're already dehydrated. The majority... Read More

Green Tea, or not to Green Tea?

Wow! Is it just me or? Wait! Let me start... Read More

Most of Us Talk and Think About Nutrition and Exercise as a Distant Activity to be Started Some Day!

If you do not take time to stand back at... Read More

Is Vitamin E Beneficial Or Harmful? Cutting Through The Clutter Of Different Scientific Opinions

Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More

Starbucks and Children Health Risks

Do you know the risks to daily intakes of Starbucks... Read More

Functional Foods: What They Are And How They Work

In the brain, a typical protein can live for approximately... Read More

Food Additives: Safety versus Health Maintenance / Prevention

The topic of food additives is not quickly addressed in... Read More

What is Organic Farming?

Organic farming is the production of food using all natural... Read More

Turn to Diet for Everyday Ailments

The old cliché that you are what you eat is... Read More

How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?

I'm always amazed at how many people seem to know... Read More

Autism and Nutritional Supplements

Unfortunately, it has been proved beyond doubt that a large... Read More

Crave Sweets? On the Weight & Mood Roller Coaster? Perhaps Its More Than You Think!

The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More