Beware Restaurant Pitfalls (a.k.a. How To NOT Wreck Your Diet)

Sure, it may be fairly easy to control your diet when cooking your own meals, but what about when you dine out? There are some things you can do to reduce the damage done to your diet when eating in restaurants. Here are some quick tips:

***Limit the number of times per month you dine out. At times it will be unavoidable, but take care not to overdo it. If this means keeping a food journal, then do so.

***Choose the best, healthiest restaurant possible. Choose eateries with salad bars, fresh vegetables, and baked alternatives to deep fat fried foods. Give yourself options. If you do not get to choose the location, limit the amount of food you order.

***Order water with lemon with your meal. No soda, sweet tea, juice, or other sweet drinks.

***Share with a friend! Restaurant proportions tend to be big enough for 2-3 people, so share the calories.

***Eat slowly and chew thoroughly in order to feel satisfied with less food.

***If you're eating at a buffet, don't go back for seconds. Get everything you want the first time around.

***Order an appetizer. If you go for a salad, keep it dressing-free or choose a low-fat option. If it's soup you want, make sure to avoid any soups made with butter, lard, beef, cheese, or other fattening ingredients.

***Eat only half your entree. As stated above, give half of it away or simply take it home for later.

Following these simple tips will help you avoid the many pitfalls associated with dining out, such as overblown proportion sizes, unhealthy cooking methods like frying, and the tendency we all have to gorge ourselves way beyond the point of fullness.