Many restaurants offer delicious low-fat, low-cholesterol meals.
These tips will help you make eating out enjoyable as well as
healthy.
Before you order:
- If you are familiar with the menu, decide what to order before
entering the restaurant. This tactic will help you avoid any
temping foods that might not be so healthy.
- If you are trying a new restaurant, take time to study the menu
in order to avoid making unhealthy decisions.
- Have the server remove temptations (butter, for example) from
the table.
- Drink two full glasses of water before your food arrives.
- Avoid foods described in the following way: buttery, buttered,
fried, pan-fried, creamed, escalloped, au gratin (with cheese), or
a la mode (with ice cream).
- If you want to eat bread, choose Melba toast or whole-grain
rolls without butter or margarine.
When you order:
- Order foods that are steamed, broiled, grilled, stir-fried, or
roasted.
- Order potatoes baked, boiled, or roasted instead of fried. Ask
the server to leave off the butter and sour cream.
- Order first so that you will not be influenced by others'
choices.
- For appetizers, order broth-based soups such as minestrone or
gazpacho.
- Choose seafood, chicken, or lean meat rather than fatty meats.
Remove all visible fat from any meat.
- Order broiled, baked, grilled, steamed, or poached
entrees.
- Ask the server to substitute low-fat foods for high-fat foods.
For example, ask for steamed vegetables instead of fries.
- Ask the chef to remove the skin from poultry and to prepare
your food without butter or cream sauces.
- Ask the server about ingredients or preparation methods for the
dishes you're not familiar with.
- Order vegetable side dishes without sauces or butter.
- For dessert, order sorbet or fresh seasonal fruit without
whipped cream or a topping.
Salad tips:
- When choosing from a salad bar, avoid items such as grated
cheese, prepared salads, cream dressings, chopped eggs, bacon bits,
and croutons.
- Use a squeeze of lemon instead of dressing on salads.
- If you opt for dressing on your salad, order the dressing on
the side. Dip your salad fork into the dressing, then into the
salad. You will consume less dressing if you just get a "taste" of
it on each mouthful of salad, rather than pouring it over the
salad.