When you go out to eat, keep this fact in mind: The average meal at large chain restaurants has about 1,128 calories. That's more than half the calories most people should eat in an entire day in just one meal. Even the small neighborhood restaurants have an average of 1,327 calories, and that doesn’t include drinks and appetizers. The food at some restaurants might contain even more calories than that in just one dish. Even if you don’t order the biggest and greasiest dish on the menu, you're still probably consuming too many calories. So how can you avoid these calorie traps and eat healthy, even when eating outside? |
Prepare yourself ahead of time. Before you go out, take 5 minutes to go over the online nutrition facts posted on the restaurant's website. Most fast-food restaurants and chain restaurants have this feature, and with proper planning, you can save yourself 1,000 calories or more. Choose a low-calorie appetizer. Stick with light appetizers like tuna, shrimp (not fried), and vegetables. This can have a dramatic effect on how 'heavy' your meal is, as appetizers can sometimes be extremely fattening and high on calories. |
Always choose veggies as your side dish. When given a choice, always ask for steamed vegetables instead of fries or onion rings. Be sure to ask how the vegetables are prepared, if they’re fried or cooked with butter, ask if you can get them steamed instead. Ask for a salad with the dressing on the side. A salad is often the most healthy choice for eating out but there can sometimes be a hidden danger in the dressing. Be sure to order it without croutons or cheese, and ask for a vinaigrette based dressing on the side. This way you can control just how much you put on your salad. Take your pasta with red sauces. Tomato-based sauces are usually healthier options than the white, cream-based sauces. In addition, ask if they have whole grain or whole wheat pasta instead of white pasta. It might cost a bit more but it's a huge difference for your body and blood pressure. |
Look at the healthy or light menu first. Many restaurants today offer options under a special part of the menu called “reduced calories,” or “under 600 calories.” It’s the first place you should look for your order and even then, always remember the other tips. Drink water. Drinks can put a damper on an otherwise healthy meal. Fruity drinks and sodas are very often just calories with a lot of added sugar. Stick with water, tea, and coffee with just a bit of cream and sugar. |
Choose healthy and lean proteins. Chicken, turkey, and fish are your best bet in almost any restaurant. Try going for a dish that’s grilled or broiled and not fried. Sharing is caring... about your health. When you go out with other people you can use this simple strategy to reduce your calorie intake. Splitting a dessert between four people can help you avoid a lot of damage and make meals more fun for everyone. |
image by: Stuart Miles / freedigitalphotos.net |
Don’t be afraid to ask. This might be the simplest tip of them all and yet so many people fail to use it. Don't hesitate to ask a server, or a manager, about the nutritious background of the food. It is your right as a customer to ask about the product you are paying for. Even if they don’t know the exact numbers they can still recommend a good dish for you. Don’t be afraid to ask, it's your health we're talking about here. |
Simple Tips to Increase Your Metabolism With Ease
Make the most out of your fit and healthy lifestyle.
This Week in Health Tips!
Summer is here and it’s time to be outdoors. Here are the best tips that make caring for your health easy, so that you can enjoy the summer as you’re meant to.
This Week in Health Tips!
Learn more ways to care about your health and well-being with these informative health tips.
This Handy Guide Is All You Need for a Good Night's Sleep
This handy guide is all you need to have a good night's sleep
Implement These Dietary Changes and Feel Better Today
These dietary changes are really easy to make, and you'll be feeling like a brand new you in no time at all. Find out more about these 12 simple changes.
This Week in Health Tips!
These beautiful infographics and handy tips make it so much easier to keep up with health trends and medical advice.
IBS vs. IBD: Which Bowel Disease Is It?
Understanding the distinctions between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is crucial.
Is Breakfast REALLY the Most Important Meal?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day - truth or myth? Watch to find out what happens to your body when you stop eating breakfast for two weeks.
Doctor Tip: How to Drain Sinus and Clear Nose in 1 Move!
This doctor has a genius routine for draining your sinuses while also clearing your nose.
Full Documentary: What Does It Mean to Be Morbidly Obese?
Looking into the life of an obese person from both a medical and psychological point of view, this video isn't one to miss!
Are You Not Eating Enough Protein? And How Can You Know?
We all know proteins are important, because they help build and retain muscle mass, but how much proteins should we be eating?
Simple Tips for Giving Your Brain a Well-Deserved Rest
In this video, you'll find valuable tips for giving your brain the respite it needs from the never-ending stress of daily life.
What You Should & Shouldn't Eat With a Stomach Ache
Not sure what you should and shouldn't eat with an upset stomach? This video has all the answers!
How to Release a Tight Lower Back in Less Than a MINUTE
If you get a tight back often, try this series of exercises for instant relief.
The Health Benefits of Waking Up to Lemon Water
Lemon water is nutritious, here is why you should drink water with lemon every day.
Mystery Revealed: Why Some Don’t Get Bitten By Mosquitoes
Mosquito bites are more than just a mild annoyance and it's very useful to know what may attract these buzzing pests to avoid mosquito bites
Everything You Wanted to Know About Healthy Tropical Fruits
Learn about eight easy-to-come-by tropical fruit that are both delicious and oh-so-healthy for you!
Is This New Drug a Revolution in Slowing Down Alzheimer's?
n the ongoing battle against Alzheimer's disease, a new development presents a beacon of hope.
If You Want to Live Longer... Bend Over More Often!
Add more years to your life by doing this one, simple exercise every day.
Relieve Pain in the Feet and Heels in Just a Few Minutes!
Do you experience frequent pain at the bottom of the feet? If so, check out these simple exercises for instant relief!
If You Eat These 9 Fish Regularly, You Should Stop!
We are always told how fish is healthy, but there are actually some types of fish that'll do more harm than good. Here are nine of them!
Does Our Stomach SHRINK When We Eat Less? Our Answer
Eat less, and your stomach will shrink over time.. is that the truth?
The Hidden Benefits of Nasal Breathing No One Told You
Discover the benefits of nasal breathing during sleep and exercise in this informative video.
Health Tips: The Best Natural Alternative for Viagra
Drinking this healthy drink everyday can help cure erectile dysfunction
This Doctor Tried the Keto Diet and This is What He Thinks
Curious to try the KETO Diet? Listen to what a doctor has to say first.
The Added Benefits of Walking No One Told You Before
We all know walking is good for our health. But we bet you didn’t know about these little-known benefits of the activity.
How the Location of Knee Pain Can Reveal Its Cause
Depending on where your knees hurt, you can sometimes tell what could be causing the pain.
Suffer From Dizziness? These Home Remedies Will Help...
We all experience dizziness from time to time. These home remedies will help alleviate the symptoms.
Can STRESS Give Your Bad Breath?
Did you know that your emotional state can contribute to bad breath?
Having Leg Cramps at Night? Then You Need to Know This
Night leg cramps beyond annoying: they can interfere with sleep and life quality. Here's everything you need to know about night leg cramps.
10 Most Frequent Misdiagnoses Made by Doctors
In the US, 1 out of every 20 adults are misdiagnosed. Here are 10 conditions that are commonly missed or mistaken for something else!
What Causes Constipation? Find Out Here...
What's behind constipation? This informative TED-Ed video sheds some light on the matter!
Don’t Believe These Lies: 12 Popular Egg Myths Busted
For the sake of french toast and sunny side up eggs for breakfast, we decided to bust 12 harmful and simply untrue beliefs about eggs
9 Effective Treatments for Stiff and Sore Muscles
Have you ever woken up in the morning and stretched only to feel neck or shoulder pain? here's how you treat and prevent it.
Reduce Intestinal Inflammation with This Amazing Drink
Watch this video to know about a potent juice that can help reduce intestinal inflammation.
These Exercises Bring Relief to Sciatica and Nerve Pain
A pinched nerve in the back can be a bothersome chronic condition with frequent flareups. Here's how to bring instant relief to this type of back and leg pain.
10 Instant Self-Checks Worth Performing Regularly at Home
Our body can give certain signs we don't always realize are indications of a bad health or disease - learn 10 brilliant ways of checking out your body for these signs regularly from home.
These Potent Foods Will Keep Your Oral Cavity Healthy
Consuming these nutritious foods will help to keep your teeth nice and healthy.
Gasp! 17 Surprising Facts About Your Lungs You Never Knew
Watch pulmonologist Dr. Ravi Kalhan answer some really interesting questions about our lungs.
3 Easy Exercises to Alleviate Light-Headedness
If you're feeling dizzy or out of balance, these three exercises will help alleviate your symptoms.
De-Stress Your Brain in 30 Seconds With These Simple Tips
A doctor shows a useful and simple technique with the help of which you can achieve instant relaxation. Find out more...
What Drinking Whiskey Actually Does to Your Body
While we now know that whiskey isn't the cure-all medicine people once though it was, it does have a few proven health benefits.
20+ Surprising Things About Your Skin You Never Knew!
Watch dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah answer some important questions about skin and dermatology.
What Happens When We Eat Oatmeal Every Day?
Why is eating oatmeal every day so healthy, and what happens to our body when we stick to it?
Let's Talk About the Anti-Cancer Benefit of Sweet Potatoes
Lets Talk About the Anti-Cancer Potential of Sweet Potatoes
Did This Technique Just Kill 99% of Cancer Cells?
This revolutionary method, employing the power of vibrating molecules, heralds a new dawn in the fight against cancer, offering hope for a more efficient and less invasive approach to treatment.
Say Goodbye to Your Double Chin with These 5 Exercises
These 5 exercises will help give your chin a tighter, younger, and healthier look, and eventually to help you get rid of a double chin all together.