When eating out becomes commonplace, such as on vacation, it is essential to exercise a little control over what we put into our mouths and in what amounts, whether you are trying to lose weight or just want to keep the line.
The following are simple tricks that will help you eat out in a healthier way, and thus be able to prevent excess calories that lead to overweight:
Choose foods cooked on the grill, broiled or steamed instead of fried. A great example is baked potatoes as a healthy alternative to French fries. Also, bet on food on the plate instead of sandwiches to avoid bread.
Start with a salad instead of the typical greasy appetizers. It will fill you up much more, providing triple the nutrients, and in exchange for many fewer calories than, for example, some nachos with cheese.
Ask them to put you all dressings and sauces aside instead of on food, so you can control the amount you eat.
The drink can skyrocket the number of calories in a meal. Don't abuse carbonated sodas, which should be limited to one or two per week. If you are a wine lover, consider ordering a glass instead of a whole bottle.
Dessert is another part of the meal that you have to watch out for when eating out, although you don't have to skip it by default. Depending on the restaurant, it is possible to find healthy desserts on the menu. If you are accompanied, and it is quite large, consider sharing dessert to save half the calories.