The restaurant industry is a multi-billion dollar business. It’s no wonder fast food restaurants are everywhere you look. In fact, a study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that while fast food places have increased in number, the number of full-service restaurants has decreased. In this day and age, eating out is one of the most common things we do. The National Restaurant Association has reported that 43 percent of Americans eat out at least once a week. The problem is we know that eating out is often more expensive, less healthy and packed with more calories than eating at home. The good news is that you can make eating out a healthier choice with a few simple tips.
Go for meat
If you’re looking for something healthy at a restaurant, the first option you should look for is any dish of meat. Generally, meat has fewer carbohydrates and less fat than just about any other food on the menu. So if you’re going to eat out, look for meat first.
The best way to eat healthy at a restaurant is to eat meat, according to a new study. It might seem to counter-intuitive, but the researchers found that people who consumed more animal-based protein had a lower BMI (body mass index) and smaller waist circumference than those who ate a lot of plant-based protein.
Read the menu carefully
There is nothing worse than ordering something out from a menu and being disappointed when you get your food. The reason restaurants can do this is because so many people don’t read the menu or see something they like (i.e. chicken) and order it without looking at what is included in the dish.
Before ordering anything from a menu, look at each dish’s ingredients and ensure that you won’t be disappointed when it arrives.
This will also allow you to make an informed decision about the food. Suppose a particular dish contains any food you are allergic to. In that case, it is better to order something else than to end up in a situation where you have to explain your allergy to the concerned person and risk being served food you are allergic to.
Ask questions about the food source and preparation
When you’re at a restaurant and thinking about what to order, it might be hard to figure out what’s in your food. When you’re about to order a salad, ask the waiter if the dressing is homemade. If not, you may get a salad drenched in processed, unhealthy oils.
If you’re ordering a pizza, ask the waiter if the tomato sauce is made with real tomatoes. Because if it’s not, you’re probably getting a pizza covered in canned tomato sauce with a ton of salt.
Some restaurants are known to use low-quality meats and other food items. Also, you should ask about the oil used for frying. Did you know that many restaurants use trans fats? Even worse, some restaurants use peanut oil, which has a long history of causing people to have allergic reactions.
If you have any allergies, you should know what you are eating. You should ask if you have any questions about the ingredients used in the restaurant.
Stay hydrated during the meal
Staying hydrated is an important part of any healthy diet. But it’s not always easy to do when you’re eating out because restaurants are notorious for over-salting their food. To avoid getting thirsty during the meal, start off by drinking a glass of water as soon as you sit down.
When you go out to eat, it’s easy to fill your body with lots of calories and fat. But you can cut back on calories by simply drinking water. Water is calorie-free and helps to fill up your stomach, so you don’t eat as much. Drink water before your meal, too, so you can fill your stomach with a no-calorie drink. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of sugary drinks like soda.
Aside from being less likely to reach for the salt shaker, you’ll also be less likely to overeat, which will help you avoid that bloated feeling that plagues most people after a big meal.
Get the wrap
Many people will ask for the salad menu when they go out to eat, but this is usually not the best choice. Salads are usually small and tend to be higher in calories than most people think. On top of that, some restaurants add a lot of dressings that make the salad a lot worse for you.
Salads are usually drowned in a heavy dressing and topped with croutons and bacon bits. Instead, ditch the bread, cheese and meat and go for a filling wrap. If you’re looking for a little extra flavor, try the Grilled Chicken Wrap in Gino’s Pizza. You can get the same amount of food in a wrap, and it will be healthier for you.
Wraps are healthy and good for you. You can get them with all sorts of healthy meats and veggies. They are not only easy to eat, but they are also very tasty. You do not have to avoid going out to eat just because you are trying to eat healthily.
Ask for an increment on the side veggies
If you’re watching your weight and looking to eat healthily, then you might have a hard time eating out at restaurants, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Most restaurants have healthy options on the menu, but you’ll have to ask for them.
For example, if you’re looking for a healthy option, ask the waiter or waitress if you can get a side of veggies with your meal. Most restaurants will be willing to do this for you, especially if you’re spending a decent amount of money there.
Restaurants often over-serve their food with high-calorie sauces and dressings, making it difficult to stick to a healthy diet. You can easily cut back by asking for an increment of veggies on the side, but you can also request a dressing on the side.
Share the dessert
Don’t finish off the piece of cheesecake or the last slice of pie just because it’s there. “The portion sizes are too big these days, and most people aren’t satisfied with one serving,” says Mitzi Dulan, RD, a New York City-based dietitian. It’s OK to indulge if you’re hungry, but don’t be afraid to split a dish with a friend to prevent some of those calories.
