Vital Points You Should Think
- December. 3 2020
By Brandy D.
If you’re trying to improve your health by following a diet or meal plan, you already know how important it is to prepare and cook meals at home. However, dining at your favorite restaurant doesn’t have to sabotage a healthy diet.
Eating out on occasion won’t sway your weight loss goals if you pick your menu items carefully. A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found 92 percent of the 364 restaurant meals reviewed from both chain and non-chain restaurants to have exceeded the recommended calorie requirements for a single meal. To stay on track, you must resist temptation.
It is possible to resist ‘bad’ foods in favor for more nutritious options. Follow these tips for success.
Via divynenhealthy
It makes sense. You’re starving and don’t feel like cooking, so you head to a local eatery. Your stomach is grumbling so you order the best-sounding thing on the menu. Triple Stacked Burger smothered in extra-sharp cheddar? Yum. A side of fries? Why not. Before you know it, only the greasy remnants of your dinner is left on the plate.
Many people choose to skip a meal and go hungry before eating out to ensure that they get their monies worth. Unfortunately, if you show up to the restaurant half-starved, you’re likely to overeat.
One easy way to prevent over-indulging on a heaping burger or hefty plate of chicken wings is to eat beforehand. Maintain your regular eating habits and avoid skipping meals if possible. If you’re hungry before arriving to the restaurant, consume a healthy snack before you go, like a low-calorie yogurt or piece of fresh fruit.
Via Thecollegehelper
Sitting down in a restaurant without a game plan often results in rash decision-making. Make an informed choice by doing your research prior to ordering. Use your smartphone to look at online menus and pick what you’re going to eat before you go. Use your smartphone when you get hungry on-the-go to locate healthy food options.
There are numerous free apps available that can help you find menu items that meet your diet requirements. Whether you’re looking for organic, gluten-free, vegetarian, raw, paleo, or just low-calorie options, it’s easy to find delicious and nutritious restaurants and menu items that meet your needs. Here are a few excellent (and free) apps to try.
When choosing menu items, there’s a few other tips to remember. Avoid foods described as “crispy”, “au gratin” or “rich”. These typically include fried and sautéed items. Instead choose items that are broiled, steamed, grilled, or baked. These types of foods typically contain significantly lower fats and calories.
Via Foodnetwork
Who says you have to get an entrée? Instead of chowing down on a large main dish, order two small appetizers instead. By choosing this alternative, you’ll get to sample two different scrumptious dishes and eat less overall.
While ingredients differ from restaurant to restaurant, opt for appetizers that are generally low in fat, such as stuffed mushrooms, baked or broiled chicken wings, or shrimp cocktail without the crackers.
Really want to avoid wasted calories? Pass on the breadbasket. If the sight of buttery buns is too much for you, simply ask the waiter not to bring any bread to your table.
Salad doesn’t have to be slathered with blue cheese. You can choose to drink plain water instead of soda. No one is forcing you to eat dessert. In short, don’t be afraid to customize your meals when eating out.
There are many ways you can personalize your order to better stay on track with your diet. Opt to have your sauce on the side, allowing you to choose how much you actually eat. Instead of white bread, rice or pasta, ask the restaurant if they serve a whole grain alternative. Of course, choosing a low fat option of any food is the wiser choice.
Here are a few tips to help you make healthier choices:
Portion control is essential when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. To determine proper portion size, you must understand how much a serving size of food is, and how many calories each serving contains. When eating, sticking to healthy portion sizes is hard, as most restaurants serve up huge portions of food to satisfy hungry customers.
The good news is you can use portion control when eating out by exercising a few simple practices. Instead of trying to eat those colossal heaps of food on your own, share your meal with a friend or significant other. By splitting a meal, you can save on both calories and money.
Another easy tip? Save a portion of your meal to bring home. By taking home a doggy bag, you can avoid overeating and you’ll have a prepared meal available for when you get hungry later on.
Via Scratchcateringservices
Salads are supposed to be good for you, right? Well, that’s not always the case. When kept basic, a green salad produces a punch of protein, magnesium, calcium, dietary fiber, and vitamins A, C, K and B6. Unfortunately, many restaurants create unhealthy salads covered in fattening dressings, croutons, bacon bits and cheese.
For a healthy salad, fill your plate with fresh veggies, greens, chickpeas, and other nutritional options. Skip the regular dressings in favor of a low-fat variety or just a squeeze of lemon juice for flavor.
Via Rebeccasaw
Southern fried chicken. Grilled bacon and cheese. New York Style Cheesecake. Enticing isn’t it? Restaurants know how to draw people in by choose descriptive adjectives to name and describe their menu items. Terms like “juicy” and “creamy” make ordinary foods sound more delicious.
In a controlled survey conducted by the Food and Brand Lab, results showed that of the 140 diners surveyed, 27 percent were more likely to choose a descriptive menu item over a menu item with an ordinary label. For example, Black Forest German Chocolate Cake sounds better than just Chocolate Cake, and Farm Raised Chicken Breast Pita is typically chosen over Chicken Pitas.
Pay attention to these descriptive menu items the next time you eat out. When you’re able to recognize them, they be less like to sway your better judgement.
Via chooseveg
Did you know it takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to send a message to your brain that you’re full? Eating fast doesn’t allow enough time for your brain to get the message that you’ve eaten enough. Give your brain time to catch up by eating slowly, fully chewing your food, and taking breaks to converse with your dinner mates.
Remember, digestion begins in the mouth. When chewing your food, allow it to fully liquefy before swallowing. If you find that you’re eating too fast, try putting your eating utensils down on the table after every bite of food. Also take frequent sips of water during your meals, as dehydration can mimic the signs of hunger.
While challenging, dining out while on a diet doesn’t have to be disastrous. Today, many restaurants offer mouthwatering menu items that are both low-fat and healthy. Don’t stress dining out – embrace it. You can have your cake and eat it too.