The new National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Obesity Guidelines say that whether or not you're trying to lose weight, you can eat healthy when dining out, if you know how.
So, if you're treating yourself to a meal out, here are some tips to help make it a dining experience that is both tasty and good for you.
ASK!
Will the restaurant:
- Serve margarine rather than butter with the meal?
- Serve fat free (skim) milk rather than whole milk or cream?
- Trim visible fat from poultry or meat?
- Leave all butter, gravy or sauces off a dish?
- Serve salad dressing on the side?
- Accommodate special requests?
- Use less cooking oil when cooking?
ACT!Select foods which are:
- Steamed
- Garden fresh
- Broiled
- Baked
- Roasted
- Poached
- Lightly sauteed or stir-fried
When dining at one of the Ark-La-Tex's many fine restaurants featuring foreign or ethnic cuisines it can sometime's be hard to be sure of how your food is prepared; below are a few terms and their definitions to look for to make healthy choices.
Chinese
- Steamed
- Jum (poached)
- Kow (roasted)
- Shu (barbecued)
- Steamed rice
- Dishes without MSG added
Italian
- Red sauces
- Primavera (no cream)
- Piccata (lemon)
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Crushed tomatoes
- Lightly sauteed
- Grilled
Mexican
- Spicy chicken
- Rice & black beans
- Salsa or Picante
- Soft corn tortillas
Source: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in cooperation with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
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