GENERAL TIPS FOR EATING OUT

Eating out and eating healthy can be difficult.  Here are some helpful and

easy tips to help make nutritious decisions:

1.        Avoid creamy dressings; instead, try vinegar and oil, vinaigrette or a light/fat-free version.

2.        Another way to cut calories from dressing is to order it on the side.  You can also do this with condiments and sauces, like mayonnaise.

3.        Avoid ordering food that is smothered, crusted or fried.  These three words indicate high-fat and high-calorie selections.

4.        Pasta dishes that are based in a cream or butter sauce are high-fat.  Try a dish with a marinara (red sauce) base.

5.        Italian restaurants serve enormous portions, try splitting the plate with a friend and ordering a side dish, like a side salad or extra vegetables.

6.        At a steakhouse, ordering a 20 oz. cut of meat is excessive.  Your body can not use 20 ounces of steak!  Try splitting it with a friend or ordering a smaller size portion.

7.        Loaded baked potatoes (with butter, sour cream, cheese, chives and bacon) pack unneeded calories and fat; try ordering a potato with butter on the side or sour cream and chives on the side.

8.        Substitute your order of French fries with another side item, preferably a side salad or an order or fresh, seasonal vegetables!