Dining at restaurants is something most people do on a consistent basis. Whether it’s celebrating someone’s birthday or a matter of convenience on a busy day, eating at restaurants is a common occurrence for most people, but it can be hard to find healthy options. Even items people generally think of as more health-based (like salads, soups, or wraps) can be loaded with calories and high in fat.
There’s a simple way to begin eating healthier in restaurants: red, white, yellow, and green instead of brown. That means many more fruits and vegetables and much less meat. Read on to see other ways you can eat healthier in restaurants.
More Fish
Fish is high in protein and other nutrients, and it’s typically more heart-healthy than other meat options (especially red meat). When ethically sourced, it’s far better for the environment than beef or pork. It’s flexible, too, because you can have it in many different ways. Of course, avoid fried fish, and have it broiled, poached, or steamed instead. It’s also great in healthy soups.
Spices Instead of Salt
You don’t have to eschew salt entirely, but there are myriad other spices that will add flavor to the dishes you order in restaurants. Some of them include various kinds of pepper, cumin, thyme, basil, saffron, chili powder, and different kinds of fruit zest. Spices will add flavor to your meal and are a healthier choice than adding salt. And, in addition to asking for low salt, don’t shake it all over your food at the table either.
Be Sparing With Appetizers
In many restaurants, the appetizers are gigantic. They’re a meal by themselves, and often, they’re not healthy. Sure, a few steamed clams with clarified butter might be fine, but giant blooming onions or huge trays of mozzarella sticks are not a healthy meal, let alone an appetizer. It’s also important to watch your portion control and not overeat on appetizers so you still have room for your meal.
Take Some Home
Restaurants want their customers to come back, so most of the time, they “give them their money’s worth.” Some of the entrees are enough to feed two or three people. Put those together with the giant appetizers and equally decadent desserts, and you’ll wind up waddling to the car instead of just walking. Take some home. You’ve paid for it, after all, so there should be no shame in asking for a take-home box.
Strategic Planning
In the same category as taking some home, you can often find a restaurant with unlimited soup and salad. Have the soup and salad in therestaurant, and take the whole entree home. That way, not only can you eat healthier in the restaurant itself, but you can also practice portion control at home. With the size of the entrees these days, you might even get four, or even five, meals from each one you take home.
Local Sourcing
When restaurants use locally sourced products, the victuals won’t have lengthy travel times to reach the restaurant. Therefore, they’ll be fresh and won’t need freezing, preservatives, or other additives. This is especially true for the vegetables that should make up most of your meals in your quest to eat healthier. Not only will you be helping your local
Don’t Deprive Yourself
It’s OK to eat fried chicken once in a while. The same thing applies to a wonderfully rare steak with your favorite potato side. Depriving yourself completely will just set you up for failure because you will build resentment and wind up chowing down on everything that you haven’t allowed yourself for however long.
Eating healthier at a restaurant isn’t difficult. It just requires some careful thought and making judicious choices about what to eat. By making a few small efforts like reading the menu ahead of time or watching your portion control, you can make a huge difference in your dietary choices when dining out.
