Dining Healthy

Healthy Dining

After a long day of work, the last thing that you want to do is cook food. So what you do is phone up a couple of friends and ask them to meet you at a restaurant downtown for some eats and some drinks. We all eat out because of the convenience, but before you start selecting items form the menu, make sure you know what you are getting. We are going to inform you of some healthy eating and drinking habits that you can take to the restaurant with you.

Healthy Eating

Before you select any items from the menu, look for a "healthy items" marker that some restaurants use to inform the diner of healthy alternatives and options that may be available. These items still have the same flavor as the other items on the menu, they just have been cooked using low fat alternatives. By selecting these items you lower your chances of developing health related diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases that may arise from obesity.

Fast Foods
The biggest benefit of fast food is the convenience that comes with entering the drive-thru, ordering your meal, and getting back on the road in less than 5 minutes. And if you are coordinated, you can eat your fries, drink your drink, and talk on your cell phone while still on the road.

Everyone knows that fast foods have the worst nutritional content when comparing them to other methods of dining out. The food is usually fried in animal fat and contains mayonnaise, salts, and other unhealthy additives. Instead of heading to the drive thru, head down to another restaurant.

Buffets
The beauty of a buffet is that you can eat as much as you want. The downfall of a buffet is that the foods that are in buffets are much higher in fat content and contain much more sodium than regular dine in restaurants. Furthermore, it is suggested that you eat six small meals instead of three large meals because eating small meals increases your metabolism, and increase your chances of slimming down. Try to select another sit down restaurant rather than a buffet.

Drinks
The best option for a beverage when dining out is water. Though many people opt for wine or another alcoholic beverage, remember that moderation is the key. The worst beverage to get is pop or iced tea since the sugars and the caffeine can be bad for your diet. Regardless of your decision, you should always moderate the other beverages and order some water on the side to wash down the food, aiding with digestion.

Appetizers
Instead of sticking to the cream of broccoli soup or the escargot in butter, choose healthier items such as a salad for an appetizer. A salad with fat free dressing is much healthier than many of the other options on the menu. If fat free dressing is not available, try a lemon wedge squeezed over the salad or get the dressing on the side, using only what is needed. If possible, stay away from salads where you cannot put the dressing on yourself.

Breads
Though bread, buns, or breadsticks are free when a meal is purchased, try to opt out. If you must chow down on breads, try to say away from the butter. Not only does the butter add extra calories to your diet, it also adds extra unwanted fat.

Sandwiches
When ordering sandwiches, select sandwiches that are on whole wheat or whole grain bread. These breads are made of complex carbs which take longer to digest. Also, try to sick to mustards and relishes other than mayonnaise and butter. These condiments are lower in calories and still add flavor to the sandwich.

Say No to Fried Food
Items that are baked, roasted, steamed, or made over an open flame are healthier than the fired alternative. The oils in fried foods increase the amount of calories and the amount of fat in a meal. Other items you should avoid are foods containing creamy based toppings, scalloped foods, or anything cooked in butter. Tomato based items are much healthier for the heart and the body.

Sauces
Sauces or extra additions that can be combined with foods should always be put on the side, so you can apply it to your food as you desire. Sauces are hidden calories which are high in fat. If possible try to stay with fat free or low fat extras.

Deserts
When dining out, the desert is the part of the meal that no one wants to skip. Many people know that the cakes and pastries are not good for their abs, but their desire for the food overcomes their healthy eating habits. If you want to have a piece of cake try to share it with a friend so you don't consume as many calories. If you want to choose a healthy alternative for foods stick to items such as fruits, yogurts, or sorbets.

Healthy eating when dining out is not hard as long as you are aware of the alternatives that are available to you. Many bachelors who eat out never think about their health and therefore have put on some extra weight. Over the years, many health food stores have come about and fast food restaurants have added healthy alternatives to their menu. You do get to choose the restaurant that you dine at and the food that you eat, so remember, if you wish to eat healthy, eating should not be the answer. Simply put, you should try to decrease the amount of time that spend in restaurants and increase the amount of time you spend in a gym.