Tips for Eating Out

Tips for Eating Out

Which restaurant chains have healthier choices?

If you're looking for healthier choices when you go out to eat, try these restaurant chains. Eating at restaurants and fast food places should not become a permanent lifestyle, these are simply recommendations that I am making if you find yourself in need of a quick, healthy meal.

Fast Food

1. SUBWAY - SUBWAY has many healthy choices from sandwiches to salads and now breakfast. One of the biggest benefits of eating at SUBWAY is that you get to choose what you put on your sandwich or salad. In addition to being a healthy choice, SUBWAY is quick and convenient! 
2. McDonald's - Yes, I said McDonald's! Over the past couple of years, McDonald's has made some great strides in trying to provide healthier alternatives for fast food--from their Grilled Chicken Snack Wraps to their NEW Premium Wraps and salads to their latest creation the Egg White Egg McMuffin. They also have healthier sweet treats, like two of my biggest weaknesses the Strawberry Banana Smoothie and an ice cream cone. Remember, you can still order things without additional dressings, sauces and cheese if you are really trying to watch the fat content and calories.

At most fast food places, there are healthier alternatives or at least you can make them a little healthier, so choose wisely!

Restaurant Chains

1. Applebees - Only a few short years ago, Applebees was on the list of the most unhealthy places to eat. Now, Applebees has added a whole line of Weight Watchers meals as well as other health-conscious meals. I must say that every one of the meals I have tried have been very tasty and more than enough food to satisfy my hunger. 
2. Olive Garden - From the bottomless salad bowl to their new healthy choice meals, Olive Garden has stepped it up to become a very nice place to have a healthy meal. They recently added a new low-calorie section to the menu. I have tried a number of these meals and they very good and filling as well. 

These are just a few places I am recommending when you really need to go out to eat. If you go somewhere that absolutely has nothing on the menu under 1,500 calories...lol...order a salad with a grilled chicken breast on it or some turkey. And when you order the dressing make sure it's on the side so you have control of how much you're putting on the salad. If they have hard boiled eggs, have them add it to the salad, and leave off the croutons and cheese...sorry.

Also when ordering something to drink...TRY WATER! The biggest problem when going out to dinner isn't always the calories or how much fat and grease you're eating, it's the SALT! Sodium is the real enemy when eating out. Everything you order is normally HIGH in sodium. And what does sodium do? It makes you retain water. Sodium can be found in fries to eggs, potatoes and to the worst...Chinese food. And the real queen of hidden sodium...DIET SODA! 

Even these places and meals that I'm recommending all have too much sodium. Once again these places and choices are my recommendations if you are looking for a quick and healthier choice when you need to go out to eat. 

I highly recommend the series of books "Eat This, Not That!" These books are really helpful when going to to restaurants and to the grocery store. 

Remember, eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle are choices. They are your choices. When going out to eat, there are choices as well. Try making healthier choices. By doing this, you may find that you feel better when you are finished eating, because of the choices you made.

I'm putting together a list of places I do not recommend eating at because of the lack of healthy options. If you have a suggestion for this list, please send it to me. Feel free to include the places you LOVE to eat at that have healthier meals options. I'm always looking for suggestions. 

Have a great day! 

Stay focused, stay strong and take control of your life! 

--Dan
    

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