One of the greatest joys in life is eating out. However, it can be difficult to eat out if you aren’t careful about what you eat. Here are 10 tips.
- Avoid the term “crispy”! “Crispy,” which is often coded for “fried”, is coded for “dunked into batter and then plunged into oil.” This is not the Njami Njami – Cooking & Recipes best food choice.
- You can choose to eat grilled, baked or broiled dishes. However, chefs may still add rich sauces to their dishes. Ask about the preparation methods.
- Research shows that if you start your meal by having a soup or a salad, you will eat less of the other foods in your meal. Vegetable-based soups or salads can be a great way to add fiber to your meal and help you feel full.
- Choose a soup with a clear broth if you order it. This will ensure that your meal starts off in the best possible way. You can usually order pasta e fagioli, which has chicken broth, vegetables, and pasta, or minestrone instead of cream of broccoli.
- Choose leaner cuts of meat. T-bone, sirloin flank steak, strip steak, pot roast, sirloin and sirloin are all lean cuts. They have fewer calories than other cuts and less saturated fat. You can also choose poultry, seafood, or tofu as smart choices (as long we aren’t talking about fish and chips or deep-fried tofu).
- Do your research: It’s important to do your homework before you go to a restaurant. Before you order, make sure you read the menu. You can also check the nutrition information before you go to a chain restaurant so that you make the best choice.
- Avoid high-fat and processed meats. Pork belly is a popular choice on restaurant menus, but it’s actually a very fatty piece of meat that is not good for you. Short ribs, sausage, and bacon are all bad choices if you want to eat healthy. These foods are high in saturated fat, and (in the case with processed meats), sodium.
- Skip the bread: Bread is not a favorite part of dining out. It’s usually not worth it unless the bread tastes great.
- Take-out: Many restaurants offer too many dishes. While this may seem like a great deal, it is not a bargain for your health. It’s best to share a main meal. You can then each have a side dish or soup. You save money, get enough food in a reasonable portion size, and keep your calories under control.
- Order off the kids’ menu: Another way to sometimes get the most portion-size-appropriate dish is to order off the kids’ menu. Example: A burger on children’s menu usually weighs 3 to 4 ounces, which is the right portion size for a serving meat. On the regular menu, it’s 8 ounces (a half-pounder). Children’s-sized fries and ice cream don’t have a high calorie count, but they will give you some of the indulgences you want.