Ensuring Healthy Eating Even When Eating Out

Planning to have a dinner date outside this weekend with your family or loved ones? Eating out can be fun, but if you’re not careful, restaurants may end up being culinary minefields for unhealthy food choices, especially for you and your kids.

Here are some tips for your consideration:

1) Safety first. Avoid eating in unhygienic places, including street-side kiosks. Food served in trolleys that roam around the city may bring health problems, including diarrhea and hepatitis A.

2) Go for grilled, broiled, or baked food, not fried.

3) Don’t super-size your meals or drinks. Larger servings may be cheaper, but you’ll be consuming more calories than you need, costing you your health in the long run.

4) At the salad bar, skip the bacon bits, croutons, eggs and mayonnaise. Use reduced-fat or fat-free dressing, such as vinaigrette.

5) Choose white meat, such as poultry and fish, instead of beef and pork.

6) Blot the pizza slice or French fries on paper napkins to remove excess oil.

7) Go for thin- rather than thick-crust pizza.

8) Water and unsweetened tea are healthier alternatives to soft drinks. 

9) Stay away from eat-all-you-can buffets. Otherwise, take small portions only instead of piling the food on your plate. -By returning to the buffet table more often, you’ll be giving your stomach time to signal your brain when you’re already sated.

10) If the serving is too large for your kids, don’t force them to polish off their plates. Ask the waiter to wrap the leftovers for takeout. 

Source: yahoo.com/health

Disclaimer: This blog is meant for informational purposes only, not for health guidance. Have a consultation today with our health care professionals.