| Diners have become more health-conscious the last | | | | with.14. Whenever possible, eat like the Europeans |
| few years, and now want healthy choices whether | | | | do, and have your biggest meal at lunchtime. Not only |
| eating at home or at their favorite restaurants. | | | | will you save money, but you'll cut down on calories |
| Luckily, the restaurant industry has been quick to | | | | at the same time!15. Take the time to enjoy your |
| accommodate the demand, so you'll find you have | | | | meal. Savor the flavors and textures of your food, |
| many options to "eat healthy" these days.Whether | | | | and enjoy the company you're with. When you eat |
| you're eating at home or dining out, the same rules | | | | slowly, you give your body's internal clock the time it |
| for watching your weight apply. You need to eat | | | | needs to know when you've had enough. When |
| more vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Choose | | | | you're full, stop eating. Ask your server to remove |
| smaller portions of lean meats, fish and poultry. Eat a | | | | your plate so you're not tempted to keep eating |
| variety of foods, and fresh, raw foods are better. | | | | while you wait for your companion to finish.16. Ask |
| Cut back on salt, sugar, saturated fats and alcohol. | | | | for salsa on your baked potatoes, rather than sour |
| Drink plenty of water, and include exercise every day | | | | cream and butter. Not only is salsa much lower in |
| as part of your daily lifestyle choice.So whether | | | | calories, but it adds a "spicy" flavor to potatoes.17. |
| you're having lunch with the gang, or enjoying a | | | | Order salad dressings and sauces "on the side." This |
| romantic dinner for two, you can enjoy | | | | gives you more control of how much to use. Another |
| delicious-tasting foods that are low-in calories and | | | | tip for salad dressing -- rather than pouring the salad |
| good for you, with just a little forethought and | | | | dressing on your salad, dip your fork into the dressing |
| planning.Here are some easy tips to remember when | | | | first, and then into the salad. You'll get the same |
| ordering out that will help you to lose weight even | | | | amount of flavor, without all the added calories!18. |
| when eating at your favorite restaurants:1. If you | | | | Choose brown rice over white rice (or french fries), |
| know the menu from the restaurant you're going to, | | | | whole grain breads and rolls over white. Not only are |
| plan what you're going to have ahead of time. This | | | | they lower in calories, but they are better for you.19. |
| will help save you from making a last minute decision | | | | Stay away from "all you can eat" buffets and salad |
| that could result in high-calorie choices.2. Drink at least | | | | bars. It's too easy to lose track of the amount of |
| one full-glass of water or iced tea before eating your | | | | food you're eating, even when it's salads. If that's |
| meal. This helps your digestive process, and, because | | | | your only choice, then stay away from the pasta, |
| you'll feel full sooner, you will eat less.3. Don't be | | | | marinated salads, cheeses and fruit salads with |
| afraid to ask for the "senior citizen" special or | | | | whipped cream. Stick to soups, raw vegetables and |
| kid's-sized portions. Most restaurants will | | | | fresh fruits.20. Have your soup first. It will help to fill |
| accommodate you -- and often you'll pay les | | | | you up, and most soups have fewer calories.21. If |
| s as well!4. Order first. That way you're much less | | | | you're craving something sweet, and don't want |
| likely to be influenced by the choices of your | | | | fresh fruit, choose sorbet. If you absolutely HAVE to |
| companions.5. If you're not sure how something is | | | | have the chocolate sauce, use the same trick as you |
| prepared, don't be afraid to ask. And if the dish is | | | | did with the salad dressing -- dip your fork into it |
| cooked in oil or butter, you can always ask if they | | | | first, then your dessert.22. Split your dessert with |
| have a "fat free" option.6. If everything on the menu | | | | your companion. You'll still feel like you got to be |
| is high in fat or calories, ask if the chef could prepare | | | | indulgent, and you'll only have to exercise half as long |
| a plate of fresh fruit and vegetables. Many | | | | to burn off the extra calories!23. When ordering |
| restaurants offer a vegetarian selection, so if you | | | | sandwiches, order them with mustard only, rather |
| don't see it on the menu, ask.7. When ordering meat | | | | than mayonnaise. Not only does mustard have almost |
| or fish, ask that it be grilled or broiled, and prepared | | | | no calories, but you won't miss the mayo!24. If the |
| without oil or butter. (When you eat it, use lemon or | | | | portion you were served is large, only eat half of it. |
| herbs and spices to give it flavor rather than heavy | | | | Take the other half home. Not only will you get two |
| sauces).8. Order an appetizer and a salad as your | | | | meals for the price of one, but you'll cut the calories |
| meal. Or a soup and salad. For dessert, choose fresh | | | | in half as well!25. Go for a walk after eating. Stroll |
| fruit.9. When choosing soup, remember that | | | | along the beach, walk through a park, visit a zoo. |
| cream-based soups have many more calories than | | | | You'll burn calories and get your exercise at the same |
| broth-based ones.10. If you're having a full meal, split | | | | time!Arnel Ricafranca |
| the appetizer and desert with your companion.11. If | | | | Fitness Expert/ Master Trainer |
| you decide to order pasta, tomato sauce has fewer | | | | Founder of Fitness VIP |
| calories than cream-based sauces, just like soup.12. | | | | Located in Randolph and Stanhope NJ |
| Choose breadsticks over bread, or if you eat bread, | | | | |
| don't add butter. Stay away from muffins and | | | | If you would like additional support and coaching |
| croissants, and choose whole grain over white.13. | | | | along the way - I strongly suggest you take a peak |
| Choose steamed vegetables instead of baked | | | | at my online "member's only" site at - as what we |
| potatoes or other starches. Again, use lemon and | | | | have for you therecan definitely help you make |
| herbs and spices rather than butter to flavor them | | | | progress fast. |