Healthy eating and dining out
Zaak OConan

One of the biggest challenges facing those trying to follow a healthy diet is the local restaurant. Eating out presents special challenges, such as not knowing how the food was prepared, how much fat it contains, and whether or not the healthiest ingredients were used.

Many restaurant chains, and even some fast food restaurants, have recognized the demand for healthier menu choices, and they are working hard to satisfy that demand. All too often, however, the healthy choices on a restaurant menu are limited and unappealing. It is important, therefore to pay close attention to the menu and make the healthiest choices possible.

One of the most important thing diners can do to eat healthy at restaurants is to be proactive. Diners should not be afraid to ask how a dish is prepared, or what ingredients are used in its preparation. If the server does not know, ask him or her to check with the chef. A good chef will be happy to answer such questions, and to make modifications in the recipe if needed. In addition, most restaurants will happily accommodate special needs, such as low fat or low sodium dishes. After all, the restaurant is there to serve its patrons.
Some of our favorite tips for healthy eating in restaurants include:

– One good rule of thumb to use when dining out is to order entrees that are grilled, baked or broiled. Deep fried dishes are best avoided. If you are unsure how a dish is prepared, don’t be afraid to ask.
– Portion size is just as important at the restaurant as they are at home. That means ordering the petit fillet instead of the full size steak, requesting half size portions of French fries, and maybe even forgoing that tempting dessert. Choosing leaner cuts of meat or fish is also a good way to eat healthier.
– When choosing side dishes, ask if steamed vegetables are available. Steamed veggies are an excellent, low fat, low calorie choice for many diners. Vegetables that are fried, au gratin, or prepared in cream or butter sauces are best avoided.
– When ordering salad, ask if fat free choices are available. Most restaurants have several fat free or low fat varieties of salad dressing available. If no low fat option exists, request the dressing on the side so that you can control the amount that is used.
– When ordering soup, choose broth based soups, and avoid bisques or rich soups like cream of crab or cream of broccoli. A simple vegetable soup is a delicious and low fat alternative.
– Replace high fat, high calorie French fries with healthier alternatives such as fresh fruit or an unbuttered baked potato. Most restaurants will be happy to accommodate such special requests.
– In Italian restaurants, stick with the tomato based sauces and avoid cream or heavy Alfredo sauces. A simple pesto sauce without meat is a good choice for most pasta dishes.
– When dining at oriental restaurants, go with the steamed rice and stir fried vegetable entrees. Avoid the heavy sauces and request that your meal be prepared with less oil. In addition, try to choose dishes that feature less meat and more fresh vegetables.
– Choose a light dessert of fresh fruit or sorbet. When ordering traditional desserts, order one and share it with your dining partner.

Finally, when dining at a fast food restaurant, it is important to avoid the temptation of super sizing the meal. Fast food restaurants often make their larger portions more attractive by pricing them competitively, but a big part of healthier eating is to control portion sizes. In addition, most fast food chains now offer healthier alternatives, such as salads and baked potatoes, as well as prominently displayed nutritional information.

While dining out certainly presents challenges to those trying to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, there is no reason to forgo the pleasure of an occasional meal out. By following the guidelines listed above, and by adding some creative tips of your own, you can make dining out a healthy experience as well as a pleasant one.
About the Author

Zaak O’Conan discovers and presents useful information on how to enhance and/or repair your life, body and relationships. You’ll find his other articles on eating better and other ways how to improve your life at http://your-health-center.com

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Healthy Eating How Small Diet Changes Can Improve Your Health

According to a number of dietitians and nutritionists, making small changes to your diet, as vigorous as your lifestyle, can do a great deal towards improving your weight and cholesterol levels, and also enhances you overall well – being. A healthy eating plan generally involves making those small but symbolic changes to what you eat, and how you eat. Here’s why how small diet changes can have positive effects on you health.

Switch To Healthy Fats

A few decades forward, whenever we were told to cut back on dietary fat, many of us sadly went extreme, and actually gave buildup on good store as well. A healthy diet includes the consumption of healthy fats and oils, which are derived from fish, legumes and nuts. Low – fat diets can also help to increase the body’s level of HLD, or good cholesterol. Good sources of healthy cholesterol include fatty fish, which is rich in Omega – 3 fatty acids, and is good for the heart.

Decrease Your Serving Size

If you’re the compassionate who loves super – sizing your food, since switching to up – sized drinks fries and burgers at the fast food joint only costs a few bucks, you may be loading your system with a lot of artery – clogging fats. Make sure that you check your food item’s health labels, because each extra calorie will have on to those pounds of unwanted monster that are stored in your body. A recent report by the American Journal of Public Health notes that obesity rates have soared up because serving portions and sizes have grown too. The best thing to do, is to decrease your usual serving portions of food by a quarter or a third. Instead of serving the usual hamburger – sized bun, give yourself sandwiches on dinner rolls, and make it a habit to order child – size portions each time.

Increase Your Intake Of Fruits and Veggies

In 199, the US National Cancer Institute, in tandem with the Produce For Better Health Foundation, began a five – spell program to encourage people to eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day, to reduce the risks of unfolding certain cancers. Today, more lucid and private health programs advocate increased vegetable and fruit consumption among the public. Five to nine servings of vegetables and fruits per day, according to the NCI, helps reduce a person’s risk of developing certain cancers, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and even macular degeneration. Serve yourself at number one one serving f fruits and veggies every breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also casual augmenting on dried o canned light fruits, and buy fruits in bulk, whenever they’re in season.

If you slowly educate yourself the basics of good diet, and you also start making healthy lifestyle and food choices, you’ll certainly be able to see positive changes in your body, in that well as in your general score. You’ll feel better about yourself, and you’ll have a better attitude towards family, friends and work. You’ll also have a lot of energy left at the end of the day to do the things you want.

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