| Eating out is a regular part of modern day life. | | | | need to come with a warning if the restaurant |
| Indeed, with our hectic lifestyle, dining in | | | | doesn't allow you to add your own dressing - |
| restaurants is almost compulsory. Juggling | | | | many salad dressings are heavy in fat. |
| between a busy work schedule, being a part time | | | | 3. Check the Children's Menu |
| taxi service for your children and visiting friends | | | | Even if the main restaurant has healthy options, |
| there seems to be less and less time to be able | | | | many children's menus haven't moved with the |
| to eat. So we naturally turn to eating out. | | | | times and will be full of pizza slices, deep fried |
| Anything from a "sandwich to go" to a fast food | | | | chicken nuggets or even fried mozzarella. Double |
| snack right up to a full restaurant meal, maybe to | | | | check what is offered on the children's menu and |
| celebrate an anniversary, birthday or just as a | | | | don't be afraid to ask for substitutes if it isn't up |
| treat. | | | | to scratch. |
| Some restaurants mark healthier options on their | | | | 4. Eat Healthy Portion Sizes |
| menu, but they're still in the minority. So what do | | | | Sharing dishes are becoming more common. You |
| you do if you want to eat healthily but don't want | | | | may be able to share a "platter for two" between |
| to opt for yet another salad? | | | | three of you. Some starters may be large |
| 1. Read the Restaurant Menu | | | | enough to share even if they're not specially |
| Even if healthy dishes are specially flagged, you | | | | marked as being shared. Italian restaurants often |
| can get a clue from the description. Cream or | | | | offer the same dish as a starter or a main |
| cheese sauces could be high fat, but if they're | | | | course. You may find that the "starter" size is |
| only drizzled over the main course then maybe | | | | actually big enough for your main. |
| not too much damage will be done. Check how | | | | 5. Check Ethnic Restaurants |
| the food is cooked: broiled will be less fatty than | | | | Chinese, Indian and other ethnic restaurants often |
| deep fried, for instance. High sugar content is less | | | | encourage the sharing of dishes. The flavors |
| easy to judge, except in the really obvious | | | | make an exciting alternative to yet another pizza |
| situations like a Chinese sweet and sour dish. But | | | | or burger. Experiment with a selection of dishes, |
| if something is glazed, that may well be a clue. If | | | | share rice between two of you and expand your |
| necessary, ask your waitress for more | | | | food horizons at the same time. |
| information. Most of them will be glad to help out. | | | | Whilst eating healthily at restaurants isn't always |
| 2. Go Easy on Fried Foods | | | | as easy as we'd like, it is certainly possible and |
| You've chosen the healthy option of a broiled fish | | | | doesn't have fall into the boring category. Indeed, |
| fillet but what about the fries that accompany it? | | | | you can use eating out to widen your food |
| Most restaurants will let you swap those fries for | | | | repertoire and experiment with dishes that you |
| something else on the menu but obviously it's | | | | wouldn't have the time or patience to create at |
| your job to remember to ask. Even salads may | | | | home. |