Of course, lots of food in restaurants is healthy, but restaurant foods tend to be higher in fat, the portions can be bigger, and they offer you tempting foods that you simply would not keep in your kitchen at home.
With this in mind, here are a few pointers to help you enjoy eating out without feeling guilty.
Don’t arrive starving
Eat a small, healthy, snack a couple of hours before your meal to make sure you are not tempted to eat everything in sight.
Avoid the nibbles
At the beginning of a meal, when you are hungry, it is very easy to fill up on the bread, poppadams, tortilla chips, etc. Try to avoid these extras.
Fill up on low-fat foods first
Make sure your starter is something light, such as soup or salad. That way, there is a good chance that you will not eat too much later on during the rest of the meal.
Ask
Don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions or alterations. Ask for sauces and dressing on the side, vegetables to be served without butter, and salad or extra vegetables instead of chips. Most places are used to this.
Watch the fats
Go for vegetable, chicken, or fish dishes over fattier meats. Avoid creamy sauces in favour of tomato-based sauces. Choose baked or boiled potatoes over chips. Ask whether the food can be grilled instead of fried.
Eat slowly
Enjoy your meal and the company. Give your body time to give you the signal that you are satisfied.
Times have changed
You don’t have to clean your plate. Cover the remaining food with your napkin if you like.
Sharing is caring
If you are still hungry, try to choose one of the lower fat dessert options like fruit or sorbet. If you want to go for one of the more indulgent options, why not share?
Drink to your health
Enjoy your glass or two of beer or wine, and sip water with your drink to reduce your alcohol intake.
