Dining Out Guide for the Health Conscious Eater

Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant meal has over 1,000 calories? That's enough to blow any healthy eating plan. Fortunately, by following a few simple guidelines, you can dine out without having to sacrifice good taste and nutrition.

1. Avoid ordering an appetizer. It's a little known fact that some appetizers have more calories and fat than the main course. Plus, many appetizers are fried and served with heavy sauces which will add to your intake of saturated fat as well as trans fats and calories. It's not a healthy way to start your meal.

2. Say "yes" to salad. Salad is a healthy eater's best friend. Not only will it fill you up so you'll consume fewer calories overall, but it will also give you a hefty dose of antioxidants which are heart healthy. Be sure to ask your waitress to hold the croutons and cheese which will further reduce your caloric load. Also, choose your dressing wisely. Avoid cream based dressings and go for the vinegar based ones. You also have the option of using vinegar and olive oil which is heart healthy.

3. Make the right entree selection. Go for broiled and grilled rather than fried. Not only will you save calories and fat grams, you'll also avoid trans fats which are so prevalent in fried foods. Instead, consider asking for a doubles order of vegetables with your entree. Very few Americans are getting the 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended for optimal health. Plus, by avoiding the starch, you'll be reducing your caloric and carbohydrate load. Also, stick to tomato based sauces rather than cream based and you'll enjoy a considerable calorie savings. Lastly, ask for the sauce to be served in a separate dish on the side so you can control the amount you eat.

4. Think about what you're drinking with your meal. By not ordering an alcoholic beverage, you've saved yourself a considerable number of calories. Try sipping iced tea sweetened with a noncaloric sweetener, a diet soft drink, or water with lemon. You'll be glad you did when you consider the calorie savings.

5. Indulge your sweet tooth wisely. Many of the chain restaurants now offer a low fat or low carbohydrate dessert selection such as a low carb cheesecake. These are wise choices for the health conscious eater and still allow you to end the meal on a sweet note. If a healthy dessert option isn't available, try a cup of coffee with skim milk to help satiate your desire for something sweet.

6. Learn to control your portions. Many restaurants are serving larger quantities of food than in the past. If this is the case, put aside a portion of your entree at the beginning of the meal to take home with you. If you remove it from your plate before you start eating, you'll be less tempted to overindulge.

By following these steps, you can make your dining experiences not only healthy, but enjoyable. Your heart will thank you!

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Dining Psychology: Understanding How And Why You Eat Or Overeat

We've all heard the expression that our eyes are bigger than our stomach, but for many that's still no reason to STOP indulging or enjoying their probably way too generous portions. But, experts assert that staying healthy as well as physically fit means listening to your body, eating when you're hungry and, YES, stopping when your are not. And they offer basic tips for calling it quits.

1. Control Yourself And Your Hunger "Pains": Experts asserts that many hunger pains are merely a bodily request for water (or some exercise). But, how will you know which ones are legitimate and which are not. Well, if you drink water, coffee, teas, or get up and walk around but the pains are still there, chances are your body needs food. But, if they are NOT stop yourself from giving into your weakness and your cravings.

2. Keep An Eye On Your Plate: Take time out to eat so you can literally concentrate and focus on what you are doing. Multitasking can make you lose site of what you are munching on, or how much, and you could wind up eating more than you normally would or want to.

3. Tune Into Your Own Body Language: A balanced diet means mostly veggies with a small portion of lean protein and a starch that will normally satisfy you after one serving. So, if you are craving seconds, consider firstly how MUCH of everything you actually ate during "round 1", what is consisted of, and give your body enough time to resister the intake. Experts suggest waiting about 20 minutes before filling up again卬oting that most times you probably won't still be hungry. If you are, you can always go back for more.

4. Don't Confuse Apples And Oranges: Experts assert that it's easy to interchange physical hunger and fullness for emotional hunger and fullness, and they stress the importance of refraining from emotional eating (or rather overeating). They recommend keeping a food journal and noting your triggers and addressing some "WHY" questions when you realize you let your emotions get the best of you.

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Dining Out 101

Do you consistantly starve yourself until you get to the restaurant, and then order everything on the menu to fill the hunger gap? If you are serious about watching your weight there are things you can do to be a more 慽nformed diner?so you make the right decisions on what food to eat when you dine out.

Fitness expert Bob Green (yes, the same Bob Green from the Oprah show) gives us a few tips on what to consider at different types of restaurants.

Italian Restaurants

-Skip the bread basket. At the very least, don抰 have it sitting in front of you for the whole meal.
-Split the pasta dishes. Portions are normally large enough for two.
-Choose soup for a meal, like Minestrone.
-Avoid anything called 憄armagiana?as it is usually fried and layered with cheese.

Chinese Restaurants
-Watch the oil and avoid anything deep-fried.
-Remember most of the calories are hidden in the sauces.
-Say "no" to egg rolls - they are filled with fat.
-Avoid dishes with eggplant in them - they soak up the oil like a sponge.
-Choose brown rice over white. Don't mistake fried rice for brown rice.
-Fortune cookies are okay to eat - they only have about 30 calories.

Mexican Restaurants
-Skip the chips/nachos.
-Substitute salsa for other toppings such as cheese, guacamole and sour cream.
-Avoid quesadillas and enchiladas that are filled with cheese. Tamales are filled with fat.
-Try to only eat half a burrito - save the rest for later.
-Taco salads are a good option - just don't eat the shell. The shell doubles the calories.
-Fajitas are a good option. Load them up with veggies and salsa, skip the sour cream.

Bob believes there is 搉othing more dangerous than showing up at a restaurant really hungry.?Being an informed diner can save you hundreds of calories in just one meal. To buffer the hunger, be sure to snack before you go out.

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