healthy food to eat at restaurants?

Question

my boyfriends family goes out to eat a lot, and on weekends, Im usually going out with them. But I am trying to loose weight right now, (or at least not gain any), but it seems hard to do that when you are eating out 3 or 4 times a week. What are some healthy choices when dining out?

Answer 1

-- for sides like white rice, white pasta, mashed potatoes -- refined carbohydrates/starches that aren't that good for you -- ask to replace them with whole-grain versions (brown rice, whole wheat pasta); a baked potato; or simply with steamed veggies. A lot of restaurants will easily swap steamed vegetables for a less healthy side dish
-- sometimes portions are huge, so you can ask for half your meal to be doggie-bagged even before it comes to the table
-- drink lots of WATER
-- take advantage of the salad bar, if it's there; but don't load up on dressing, croutons and starchy toppings; instead focus on vegetables and lean protein
-- when you do order salad, ask for the dressing on the side so you can drizzle it on instead of pouring it
-- choose well-balanced meals. At sit-down restaurants this should be fairly easy to achieve. An easy rationale -- 1/2 your plate should be vegetable; 1/4 should be protein; 1/4 should be whole-grain carbohydrate
-- avoid fried foods, or anything in a creamy sauce. Words to look for on the menu are "steamed" and "grilled" -- these are usually healthier. Baking also tends to be a healthier method of cooking, but check the menu to see if your food will be smothered in cheese or butter
-- I'm not a huge butter fan, but I do LOVE cheese and sour cream. However, these two condiments are pretty high in fat, so you'll want to ask servers to either go light on them, or to avoid them altogether

Answer 2

Grilled chicken or a salad, as long as you get the dressing on the side and just dip your fork in it and as long as it isn't loaded with a ton of cheese or other fattening ingredients. A lot of people get salads thinking they're healthy when they actually have more calories than a huge burger and fries.

I eat out a lot too, and the best thing I've done is just be prepared. Go to the websites of the restaurants you go to the most often, and look at their nutrition info. Then pick out a couple items that are low in calorie or fat that you would like and stick to those whenever you go to that restaurant. I do it all the time.

Answer 3

Stick with lean protein such as fish, chicken, or turkey. Get it broiled poached, or steamed. Avoid rice and potatoes and don't touch the bread basket. Get water or unsweetened iced tea to drink instead of soda. Ask if you can substitute an extra veggie for the starch in your entree. Most restaurants will accomadate you.

Answer 4

You can lose weight on anything. It's the amounts you eat.

Answer 5

A salad.