Do you love dining out but are trying to maintain a healthy, waistline-conscious diet? Turns out, it’s possible to visit your favorite restaurants without deviating from your health plan. Jody Gilchrist, a nurse practitioner at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, offers tips for accomplishing this feat.
-Order off the kid’s menu. So what if you’re not 12 or under? Eating a child-sized meal can satisfy your appetite for fast food while still keeping your portion size in check. Plus — as Gilchrist points out — you might even get a toy. Sweeeet! Along these same lines, If you’re at a sit-down restaurant, try ordering an appetizer instead of an entree.
-Plan ahead. So you know you’re eating out tonight? Calculate your calorie consumption beforehand. “If you know which restaurant you are going to, look at the menu online and plot out a healthy course,” Gilchrist advises. “Also, you can download smartphone apps that give calorie counts for specific restaurants.”
-Pay attention to how food is prepared. Don’t be shy, Gilchrist says. Just ask. If you hear your waiter utter words like “fried” or “battered,” find out if your food can be baked, broiled, grilled, steamed or stir-fried.
For more tips from this clever nurse, click here.