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By using some or all of the strategies above, you can minimize the
damage to your diet. And by limiting how many times you eat out
each week, you will help your waistline AND your wallet too!

EATING OUT AND STAYING HEALTHY

Are you one of the many American families that love to eat out at
your favorite restaurants? If so, then you probably think that this
lifestyle is not good for a healthy diet and most of the time this
assumption is right, but you can still dine out occasionally and still be
able to maintain a healthy diet. What it all boils down to is making
smart choices in the foods that you eat and knowing the nutritional
values of the food that you need to stay happy, physically fit, mentally
stable and live an active life.

The first thing that you should do while eating out is to not order a
drink. It is very tempting to order a glass of beer or some other mixed
beverage for dinner, but the problems with these are that they have
many empty calories which are not good for your body. One of the
exceptions to the rule when it comes to alcohol is wine. Red wine has
been proven to actually prevent heart disease in some people. Always
remember, you should only drink one glass and no more. When I go
out to a restaurant, I always order a cold glass of water which is much
better for your body and your wallet.

You should also not order any appetizers unless it is part of the salad
bar. The problems with these foods are that they are usually high-fat
foods that are not designed to fill you up and they can even cause you
to crave even more high-fat foods. Some of the well-known appetizers
are mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and wings. Try to focus on your
main course meal and if you must have an appetizer, share the single
portion with your dinner guests.

Before you order your main dish, make sure that you know the
ingredients in the meal. Dishes with cream sauces or high fat meats
should be avoided and it is not a smart choice to order potatoes or

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