The modern family of today is much different than a family of earlier times. It seems there isn't enough time in a day to get all of the scheduled activities that are planned let alone having time to cook dinner. So, probably more often than you want, you end up at a restaurant to speed up the process. The problem is, if you are concerned for maintaining a healthy diet, you may find it difficult to find healthy choices in many restaurants.
If this sounds familiar to you, it's okay. Just remember that it is not only about eating healthy but also making good choices in those times healthy nutritious food is not available. Start first by learning about nutrition and things your body needs to stay active and healthy. Then make the best choices you can from your available options. One mistake people typically make is their drink selection. You may think it is okay to enjoy a bottle of beer or a mixed beverage before or with dinner but in reality all you are doing is taking in empty calories that have no benefit to your body. The one exception to the rule when it comes to alcohol is wine, especially red wine, which may be okay if you have only one glass. It may even help prevent heart disease in some people.
The obvious part of the menu you should skip over is the appetizers. Unless you start with a small salad, appetizers are usually foods that are high in fat content and that can actually make you crave more high fat foods. If you just focus on your main course you should be able to easily resist the temptation. But if you just can't resist, you should at least try to get a single serving that everyone at the table can share.
Choosing your main dish is when you will test your knowledge of healthy food, and your ability to resist foods for their taste. You should make choices with your health as your main concern. Anything that has creamy sauces or meats that have a lot of fat should be passed over for healthier things such as non-breaded fish or a leaner cut of meat. And please skip side dishes like French fries, mashed potatoes and onion rings. Those can easily be replaced with a nice serving of vegetables or can be eliminated completely when vegetables are not available.
One thing that cannot be stressed enough is portion size. A good way to eat smaller portions is to order from the lunch menu. Lunch portions are typically much smaller than the dinner portions so the decision should be an easy one. Another way to ensure you eat smaller portions is to split your meal in two and ask for the other half to be packed in a doggie bag. This helps you in two ways. First you don't eat as much and second you have a nice meal you can enjoy for lunch or dinner the next day.
When you have finished your meal, you may be tempted to order desert. This may be especially true when you first start eating smaller portions, because you may feel you are still hungry. But just like you did with the appetizers, you need to skip the temptation or order one serving for everyone at the table to share. You may not realize this but many deserts have more calories than the entire meal you just ate. Special occasions, like birthday parties and such are times you can cheat a little when it comes to desert but for your overall health and well being, deserts should be avoided completely.
Knowing which foods are okay and which to avoid will help you make healthy choices when eating in a restaurant. It is ultimately your will power and commitment to healthy living that will help you make those choices so you will need to be on guard and not give in to temptation. Now go out and enjoy!
While I am not a trained professional, I do follow and support things that promote a healthy lifestyle. To get more free information on how you can make healthier choices for a better life, please visithttp://loseweightwithjon.webs.com |
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