Eating out tips!

Let's start a topic....everyone post your tips for eating out healthly (is that a word?) and enjoying it!

Heres my first tip:

When you order a salad, order the "lunch" size or "half" size if its available. Even though salads are great for you, restaurant size ones are WAY too big. Also ask for your dressing on the side. Instead of pouring the entire thing onto your salad, dip your fork in the dressing then the salad. Two great benefits: you can still get plenty of dressing in each bite without overdoing it and you can take your leftover salad home with you and it won't get soggy from the dressing! Also ask for things like croutons or high fat cheeses on the side so you can determine how much goes on it.

Now it's someone else's turn!

I always (even before I was watching what I eat) asked for a box right at the beginning of the meal. I can never eat all that they give you...so I'd just go ahead and box half of it up before I started eating! Plus ask HOW things are cooked. Sometimes you can request that something be baked rather than fried or... ask for them to put no butter on your veggies and so on. Its ok to be picky!!!

I always eat out with someone who will split with me, boyfriend, sister, best friend.  If I know I am going to a restaurant that doesn't really have any healthy options, I'll eat a small meal before I go and then split an appetizer at the table or order a side salad.

If I know where I'm going I check out their menu in advance so I know my battle plan before I even get there!

I also split stuff with my b/f. I just put half of my food on his plate and forget about it

i ask them to prepare my food w/out butter or oil.  i tell them i'm allergic to them just to be sure they don't use them!

Steer towards white meats such as fish or chicken, as they are lighter and typically have no fat pieces on them.

Ask for all sauces/dressings/butter on the side.

Order diet soda or water to begin with, and be sure to drink generously so you won't be ravenous by the time your food arrives!

Order a soup, salad, or veggie before your meal to help fill you up. For soup, go for vegetable or clear soups and steer away from 'cream of' soups. For salad, if you have meat in it, make sure it's grilled and not fried. For veggies, avoid anything with 'crispy' 'stuffed' or 'smothered' in the name - daaaangerous!

Yes the "alergy" thing is always useful if you feel a bit embarassed about being fussy, but the main thing is to remember that you are the customer, ask for what you want as thats what your paying them for.

The tip about the salad is good if the salad has a lot of stuff in it.  If it's just a green salad with lettuce or greens, tomato and lettuce, then eat all you want, but watch out for the dressing.  If you get the dressing on the side, dip the tines of your fork into the dressing, then pick up your bite of salad.  You'll use very little dressing but you'll still have the taste.

I never eat bread with the meal and I drink only water.  That saves quite a few calories.

get two appetizers and have one served as the main course -- like soup and salad.  

This may sound icky to some, but I've gotten in the habit of ordering my side salad with only vinager as the dressing.  No oil, and not vinaigrette, but plain vinager.  0 calories, but adds moisture.  Then I add a little salt and pepper.  It's pretty good, you can really taste the flavor of the veggies.  They fill you up before your meal but you don't have the guilt that goes along with a high-fat dressing.  Plus it doesn't matter how much you put on.  Just make sure you order the salad without any croutons or cheese or anything.  Also, I always try to get stuff like lean grilled chicken or fish.  Or you can order fish broiled with no oil or butter.  They'll usually do it, and I find it really doesn't need it anyway.  I had fantastic broiled scallops last week with no butter, just a little paprika.  They tasted awesome.

hmms, i just tend to talk a lot whenever my friends & i are eating at those calorie infested restaurants. & since it's rude talking with your mouth filled with food, talking stops me from wolfing down everything on my plate in a nanosecond.

oh! additionally, i take at least a gulp of mineral water in between my bites so usually i'll feel pretty full when i'm only halfway done with my food.

Most chinese places have brown rice. You just have to ask for it. It saves a lot of calories and glycemic load versus white rice.

I love fish. When I eat out I always order the fish or other seafood with veggies, it's not so filling. I also try to stay away from fast food. Also pizza hut has some good salads, if you know what to pick dressing is no longer necessary.

From Rachael Ray's 40 Dollars a Day (long long time ago) : Ask for a take home container right when you get your food, and put half in it so you don't overeat. (I guess if it's a crazy amount, but in more than half)

I haven't done this because it kind of sounds silly, but it's a good idea.  When I'm out eating I'll be like "ok i'm gonna stop now and take the rest".  then it just sits in front of me and i start picking and eating again.

i always check out menus in advance, and if they have a weight watchers or "lighter options" section i usually pick from there, but if they don't i usually get soup. i'd rather have a lot of sodium for little calories than a lot of sodium for a LOT of calories (:
and i'll get a side salad too (luckily i don't like dressing).

and sometimes i sample the appetizer, but i try not to take a lot)

I get ice water right at the beginning and try to finish off at least one glass before my meal. I always always order salads with dressing on the side, no croutons, no bacon (I dont eat pork or red meats) never anything with a creamy dressing, shrimp option if theres a choice of the meat on top (they always skimp on the shrimp so its the lowest cal choice) and if theres cheese I ask to skip or go light on it, and light on nuts.

If I'm going somewhere I really enjoy or its a special treat restaurant I just order what I want and eat until I'm full. My graduation dinner is one of those special treat ones but dates or going out with friends always falls into the light salad category. I usually avoid chinese but I will go with a light soup or a vegetarian stir fry without the rice and a really watery sauce (drains off when you use fork or chopsticks) if I do. If you are bad at chopsticks- USE THEM! Always skip dessert.

i usually try to order a salad as a starter that is very plain. just veggies. nothing creamy or cheesy. and use a very tiny bit of a good salad dressing. and i eat all that i want. by the time my meal comes i can only eat about a third of it.

another good salad tip. if you are eating a salad that has something on it like grilled chicken or avocado, ask for a few lemon wedges instead of dressing. it adds tangyness and moisture, few if any calories, and its pretty complimentary to the rest of the salad.

I also try to check out the menu ahead of time...so many restaurants show them online now. Also, I don't usually restrict what I eat THAT much when I eat out because I plan ahead and know if I am going out earlier in the day. That way, I can eat fewer calories throughout the day and not worry as much about it when I am at the restaurant. It really works for me. Also, if I overeat, I'll go to the gym later and burn off any extra cals i have eaten. Good luck and happy eating!