12/9 DINING OUT IN GOOD HEALTH TIPS

EMILY BAILEY · FEBRUARY 1, 2017

With so many responsibilities and not enough time, sometimes eating out seems like the most reasonable option for fueling up. Unfortunately, restaurant dishes are often loaded with calories, as well as the saturated fat, sodium, and sugar that make these meals taste so good. Indulging in these large, frequent meals can be costly in terms of time, money, and nutrition. Even the seemingly “healthier” options are still generally higher in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat than a packed lunch or a meal eaten at home. Still, eating out has become so normalized in our culture that many people dine out daily at lunchtime and 2-3 times per week for dinner, so it’s important to know how to be smart about it.

Here are 14 strategies to try when eating out, as well as some of the healthier selections from eight of the most popular types of cuisine.

14 STRATEGIES FOR HEALTHIER RESTAURANT DINING

  1. Look up the menu online beforehand to preselect a healthy meal.

  2. Try not to arrive starving, when your eyes are bigger than your stomach and everything sounds good! If you’re eating lunch or dinner later than usual, grab a piece of fruit or carrot sticks to eat on the way to stabilize blood sugar.

  3. Ask the server not to bring bread or chips, or avoid asking for a refill.

  4. Always order water, even if ordering another beverage, especially if it’s alcohol.

  5. Start the meal with a salad or broth soup packed with veggies.

  6. Choose a side salad or fruit over chips or any type of fried potatoes.

  7. Ask if an entree can be halved, or order a lunch portion, if available.

  8. Choose grilled, baked, or steamed dishes over fried.

  9. Choose leaner proteins such as chicken, fish, or loin beef cuts.

  10. Request no added oil, butter, salt, or sugar.

  11. Ask for dressings, sauces, and condiments to be served on the side.

  12. Load up on veggies!

  13. Consume the lowest calorie foods first to feel more satisfied before eating higher calorie foods.

  14. Split dessert with the table and have just a bite or two, or enjoy seasonal fruit as dessert.

SMART SELECTIONS

Smart Selection: American Food

Appetizer

  • Vegetables without added fats, oils, or salts

  • A salad with no croutons or cheese; use vinegar or lemon juice as dressing

  • Choose less often: chicken wings, dips, and fried onion rings

Soup

  • Broth-based vegetable soup without added cream or cheese; most will be high in sodium!

Entrée

  • Fresh fish, seafood, or skinless white meat chicken; ask for steamed, baked, broiled, or poached without added butter, oil, or salt

  • Plain pasta with meatless red sauce for a good lower-fat option

  • An egg white omelet without added cheese or salt; great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Smart Selections: Chinese Food

Appetizer

  • Cucumber salad

Rice

  • Plain steamed brown rice

Vegetables

  • Request vegetables stir-fried in defatted chicken broth, wine, or water; ask for no soy sauce or salt

Entrée

  • Moo Goo Gai Pan (fresh mushrooms with sliced chicken)

  • Buddha’s Delight (savory vegetarian stew)

  • Vegetable lo mein

  • Vegetarian or chicken chop suey

  • Bean or rice threads or noodle dishes with chicken or tofu

  • Broccoli with scallops or chicken

  • Whole steamed fish (no skin) with ginger and garlic

Dessert

  • Avoid almond and fortune cookies, which have saturated fat and egg yolk.

Smart Selections: French Food

Appetizer

  • Vegetable vinaigrette: Grilled vegetables, fresh asparagus, or steamed artichokes; for a tangy, delicious dipping sauce, mix some balsamic vinegar with Dijon mustard.

Soup

  • Onion soup without cheese or lentil soup; however, all soups will be high in sodium and probably contain a little oil.

Salad

  • Salads with steamed or marinated fresh vegetables.

Entrée

  • Roasted chicken, grilled chicken, or fish

  • Poached salmon

  • Fish stew (bouillabaisse)

  • Filet mignon

Smart Selections: Indian Food

Appetizer

  • Papadum (baked lentil wafers, typically made with oil)

  • Bread: Chapati (whole-wheat), Naan (poppy seed), or Kuicha (leavened baked bread); request bread directly from the oven before it is oiled.

Soup

  • Samber (vegetarian)

  • Mulligatawny (lentil and vegetables)

  • Dahl Rasam (lentil and peppers)

Salad

  • Chopped salad with onion, tomatoes, and lettuce

Entrée

  • Chicken Tandoori

  • Chicken Tikki (roasted with mild spices)

  • Chicken Saag (spinach, hold the cream)

  • Chicken Vindaloo (a spicy dish with potato)

  • Shrimp Bhuna (cooked with vegetables)

  • Aloo-Gobi (cauliflower and potato)

  • Pulao (basmati rice)

  • Chana (anything with garbanzo beans)

Smart Selections: Italian Food

Appetizer

  • Steamed mussels or clams

  • Grilled vegetables with minimal or no oil

  • Steamed artichokes

Salad

  • Salad with no meat, cheese, or olives; use vinegar or lemon juice as dressing

  • Arugula with balsamic vinegar is a great choice too!

Soup

  • Minestrone, although high in sodium!

Pasta

  • Whole-wheat pasta cooked in unsalted water

  • Avoid stuffed pasta like ravioli and tortellini

Sauce

  • Choose meatless tomato sauce like marinara and Pomodoro; use sauce with oil and salt sparingly

  • Request fresh, chopped tomatoes, basil, garlic, and a splash of balsamic vinegar as a good alternative to sauce

  • Order a side of grilled or steamed vegetables to mix in with the pasta or order pasta primavera

Entrée

  • Grilled fish or chicken; avoid hidden fat like oil and butter

Vegetable

  • Vegetables without butter or sauce

Smart Selections: Japanese Food

Appetizer

  • Cucumber salad in vinaigrette

  • Grilled vegetables

  • Steamed soybeans (edamame), without salt on top

Soup

  • Miso soup (high in sodium!)

Rice

  • Steamed brown rice

Entrée

  • Seafood sunomono (with vegetables and vinegar)

  • Sushi

  • Sashimi

  • Sukiyaki

  • Mizutaki (chicken and vegetables simmered in water)

  • Steamed, grilled or roasted fish

Smart Selections: Mexican Food

Appetizer

  • Salsa with steamed corn tortillas instead of fried chips

Soup

  • Black bean or gazpacho soup; sodium will be high!

Entrée

  • Chicken fajitas, sautéed with no oil, with steamed corn tortillas

  • Soft, steamed tostada with beans, salsa, lettuce, onion, and shredded vegetables

  • Chicken enchilada or soft chicken or fish taco with no breading or dressing

  • Chicken or seafood taco salad without the taco shells

  • Arroz con pollo (chicken with rice)

Smart Selections: Thai Food

Appetizer

  • Satay (marinated grilled beef or chicken); avoid the peanut dipping sauce

  • Steamed mussels

  • Thai garden salad

  • Steamed rice

  • Seafood kabob

Soup

  • Crystal noodle soup

  • Talay Thong (seafood, beans, vegetables)

Entrée

  • Thai chicken (no cashews)

  • Sweet and sour chicken

  • Poy Siam (sautéed seafood)

  • Scallops/bamboo/vegetable boat

  • Pad Thai (vegetables, noodles, spices)

Ray Traitz