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Tips for Eating Smart
Watching calories while eating out? The good news is in today's restaurants you have
plenty of options! Here are a few tips from the National Restaurant Association
on how to make the most of your dining-out experience.
By Sheila Cohn, R.D.
• Order salad dressings and other sauces on the side.This way, you have control
over how much or how little you add.
• When ordering grilled fish or vegetables, ask that the food either be grilled
without butter or oil, or prepared "light," with little oil or butter.
• When ordering pasta dishes, look for tomato-based sauces rather than cream-based
sauces. Tomato-based sauces are much lower in fat and calories. In addition, the
tomato sauce (or marinara sauce) can count as a vegetable!
• Drink water, diet soda, or unsweetened tea or coffee instead of regular soda or
alcoholic beverages. This will save a lot of calories each day.
• Share a dessert with a friend. Half the dessert equals half the calories.
• Share an appetizer. Same rule as above applies.
• When choosing a soup, keep in mind that cream-based soups are higher in fat and
calories than most other soups. Soup can serve as a great appetizer to a meal, or
as an entree. Most soups are low in calories and will fill you up, so you eat less.
• Order steamed vegetables as a side dish instead of starch.
• Ask for salsa with a baked potato instead of sour cream, butter, cheese, or bacon.
Salsa is very low in calories and a healthy alternative with a lot of spice.
• Stop eating when you are full — listen to the cues your body gives you.
• Order sandwiches with mustard rather than mayonnaise or "special sauce." Mustard
adds flavor with virtually no calories.
• Take half of your meal home. The second half can serve as a second meal! (Two
meals for the price of one: What a deal!)
• If you want to eat less, order two appetizers, or an appetizer and a salad, as
your meal.
• If you have a choice of side dishes, opt for baked potato or steamed vegetables
rather than french fries. Even if choices are not listed, ask your server to substitute
vegetables or a baked potato for french fries.
• Look for items on the menu that are baked, grilled, dry-sauteed, broiled, poached,
or steamed. These cooking techniques use less fat in the food preparation and are
generally lower in calories.
• Don't be afraid to ask for special low-calorie or low-fat preparation of a menu
item. The restaurant industry is one of hospitality and customer choice. We aim
to please.
• Plain bread or yeast rolls are relatively low in fat and calories. It's the butter
and oil you add that increases the fat and calories.
• Choose entrees with fruits and vegetables as key ingredients. Enjoy the flavors
they offer. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of dietary fiber as well as
of many vitamins and minerals.
• Choose foods made with whole grains. Examples include whole-wheat bread and dishes
made with brown rice.
• Enjoy foods that are flavored with fresh herbs rather than fats such as oil and
butter. Herbs add a unique flavor to any dish!
• If you are craving dessert, opt for something low-fat, like sorbet, fresh berries
or fruit.
• Remember not to deprive yourself of the foods you love. All foods can fit into
a well-balanced diet.
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