Tips for Eating Healthy at Your Favorite Restaurants
By Sara Butler
You may have promised yourself that you'll be eating healthier this year, but that doesn't mean you can avoid all unhealthy situations. The secret to keeping your promise is to know how to navigate situations where you may be tempted to fall back on unhealthy habits -- situations just like eating out at restaurants. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy while you still enjoy meeting friends and family for a meal out.
Learn Restaurant Lingo
The first step to staying healthy? Understand what the descriptions on the menu are really talking about. There are some descriptions that are a sure sign the food does not fall into the healthy category. These include:
- Pan-fried
- Dipped
- Scalloped
- Gratin
- Alfredo
- Crispy
Any dish with these words will have a lot of hidden sodium and fat. Instead, look for these words as a sign that what you're eating is on the healthier side:
- Steamed
- Baked
- Grilled
Make sure you fully explore a menu to see what your options are. If the menu is available online, you may want to look at it before you even get to the restaurant.
Watch Out for Butter
Chefs are trained to add flavor to dishes by adding salt and fat. In cheaper restaurants, that means using a lot of oil. In more expensive restaurants, copious amounts of butter are sure to be thrown in. While it may make the food taste better, it doesn't make it healthy. Don't be afraid to question your server about how food may be prepared and switch to a dish that doesn't have a lot of hidden fat.
Kick Off the Meal Right
Try to start your meal off with a light appetizer. Something such as a salad with the dressing on the side or a stock-based soup can really help you control how much of your main course you eat and help keep you from overeating.
Watch the Sides
Side dishes can be a minefield when it comes to staying healthy at a restaurant. Try to stay away from rice dishes since they tend to hide a lot of butter and oil. Try going for a baked potato with just a little bit of sour cream instead and make sure to eat the skin -- that's where a large number of the nutrients are.
You can stay healthy and eat out at restaurants -- you simply need to know what to look for!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Des Peres, Mo.