Dining Out Survival Guide: Little Tips to Keep Fat Off Your Hips!

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We're all pretty good about sticking to our diet when we stay home and dine on properly portioned meals like those provided by Diet-to-Go. But what about those times when we're forced to leave our comfort zone and forced to eat at a... GULP!... a restaurant?

According to recent statistics, the average American eats out 4.2 times a week. That's four opportunities to dive into the pre-meal bread basket and blow away your diet resolve.

But, when armed with a few handy little tips, it's also four opportunities to stick to your guns and steer clear of the buns.

We know it's not always feasible to cart along your Diet-to-Go meal. So today we're serving up a few tips for surviving a fun night out with friends or family.

Wave bye-bye to bread!

If the other members of your party are in agreement, instruct the server to keep the bread basket off the table and out of sight.

Avoid alcohol.

A few drinks will not only add extra calories but they'll also lower your resolve and lead you into temptation!

Don't be shy about making special requests.

Ask your server to have your meal cooked the way you want it - without extra sodium or extra fat. Any chef worth his salt will be able to add flavor without adding the bad stuff.

When it comes to your entree, size matters!

Don't be ashamed to order from the kids' menu or to share an entree with a friend. If neither of those ploys work for you, then take half of your meal home.

Come to terms with cooking methods.

Fried, au gratin, crispy, escalloped, pan-fried, sautéed or stuffed foods are almost always high in fat and calories. Order dishes that come steamed, broiled, baked, grilled, poached or roasted.

Oil's well that ends well.

Ask that your meal be prepared with a healthier vegetable oil made from canola, olive, corn, soy, sunflower or safflower.

Don't get saucy!

Have all your gravies, sauces and dressings served "on the side" so you can control how much you get on your food... or, better yet, skip them completely and enjoy your food "naked!"

Go ahead, have dessert...

But just make sure you order a fruit cup or maybe a little sherbet instead of cake, pie or ice cream.

Archived posts 2010

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