Go Healthy When you Eat Out

Sometimes there’s nothing in the fridge and you really don’t want to cook - but just because you’re treating yourself to a restaurant meal doesn’t mean that you should forget about your health. It’s hard to control how food is cooked at restaurants, but there are some ways to make sure you’re getting the healthiest meal possible.

One major tip is to limit portion sizes! If your entree arrives and you see that it's way more than you should eat at one meal, get half wrapped up to take home before you even dig in. You'll savor the rest of your order and have lunch or dinner for later in the week.

Another tip is to order well! There are healthy choices available at just about any restaurant. Sometimes it may take a little more ingenuity on your part, but a healthy ordering strategy can save you. Here are some helpful tips for choosing healthy restaurant foods:

Pizza. Pizza can be delicious and nutritious, if you know what to order. Don’t order extra cheese and meaty toppings, instead try mushrooms, peppers, and other flavorful veggie toppings that will spice up your meal and deliver some vitamins. And watch out for special offers like breadsticks, cheesy crusts and dessert items they might be free, but their fat and calories definitely count!

Chinese Food. Chinese food in America is notoriously high in saturated fat. The key to getting ordering healthy off of the Chinese food menu is to go for steamed dishes with lots of veggies and little fat. Try an order of steamed vegetable dumplings and mixed vegetable stir-fry with brown rice. Treat yourself to a fortune cookie but stay away from crunchy deep-fried toppings. Also go for low-sodium soy sauce if they’ve got it it tastes just like normal soy sauce, but has just a fraction of the salt!

Mexican Food. Hearty burritos with beans, rice and veggies can satisfy even the biggest appetite. Avoid hard tacos and nacho chips they’re deep-fried and super fatty. Instead, try a soft taco with beans or fish, loaded up with rice, lettuce, tomatoes and salsa. Do yourself a favor and hold the cheese and sour cream.