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Eating Out - Keeping it Healthy

 

With large portion sizes and high fat foods filling many restaurant menus, it can be difficult to make healthy choices.

However it's certainly not impossible.

Try the following hints:

Don't arrive with an empty stomach

Eat a small snack (e.g. fruit or dry biscuits) before you leave the house so you aren't hungry when you arrive.

Request a glass of water upon being seated

Sip water instead of nibbling on bread or consuming high calorie drinks.

Order first

Whether it's a main meal or dessert; ordering first will help you maintain your resolve to make healthy choices.

Customise your meal

Don't be afraid to order what you want prepared the way you want; after all, you’re paying! Ask for sauces and dressing to be held or at least placed on the side.

Refuse side orders

Decline high fat side orders such as crisps or chips: choose vegetables or salad instead.

Avoid fried foods

Avoid dishes that are fried, basted, scalloped, pan fried, sauté, stewed, au gratin or 'cream of'. Cream sauces, cheese sauces, gravy, hollandaise sauce and anything 'marinated' should also be avoided. Instead, choose foods that are boiled, baked, braised, grilled, poached or roasted.

Choose steak carefully

Choose lean cuts such as fillet, flank steak or sirloin. Experiment with splitting the steak into two smaller portions you'll often feel sated after eating one half.

Take some home

You don't have to eat everything on your plate! If the serving size is too large, take the remainder home and save it for later.

Eat slowly

To fully appreciate your meal, your company and the restaurant's atmosphere; you need to eat slowly and enjoy the food in your mouth. Put you knife and fork down between each mouthful.