Dining Out Tips For Dieters

When trying to lose weight, eating out may present many challenges, especially when eating out often. Making healthy, low-fat choices in many restaurants is difficult without the knowledge of how the food is prepared.

The following tips may provide guidelines on how to choose healthy, low-fat foods:

• choose a restaurant that provides options, such as a salad-bar, low-fat foods, broiled and vegetarian foods

• choose low-fat side dishes, such as a green salad with dressing on the side, a plain baked potato with plain yogurt as a topping, or a steamed vegetable instead of french fries or coleslaw

• ask for dishes to be made without high fat additions, such as cream sauces, gravies, and butter

• try low-fat, even meatless, ethnic meals that are steamed or stir-fried

• avoid desserts or choose fresh fruit, sorbet, sherbet or angel-food cake

• ask for low-fat meals

Eating out should be a pleasure. Restaurants listen to their customers. By making healthy choices, dining out can be incorporated into any weight loss program. For more information, contact a registered dietitian or your healthcare provider.

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