Many people have heard startling facts about how unhealthy restaurant food is. Generally, restaurant meals may be high in calories, fat, sodium and sugar. Because of this, some people avoid restaurant food as much as possible. However, dining out is an enjoyable experience, and it often is essential as a matter of convenience when you lead a busy life. The good news is that you can make dining out a healthier experience when you follow a few tips.

Choose Restaurants with Healthier Menu Options

Because many people are increasingly health-conscious, many restaurants offer at least a few seemingly healthy options. This may include salads or grilled options. However, rather than limiting yourself to a handful of menu items and being tempted by unhealthy alternatives on the menu, head to a restaurant that only serves healthy options. For example, you can visit a specialty salad café or sandwich shop. Focus on restaurants that use fresh, natural ingredients.

Research the Menu Items before You Arrive

You may have heard that some seemingly healthy menu items, such as some types of salads, may not be as healthy as people think. As an example, salad dressing can be loaded with sugar, and meats and cheeses on a salad can add fat and calories to the meal. The health contents of menu items at many popular restaurants are posted online, and there are also some convenient apps that you can download to your smartphone for easy research. A smart idea is to pick out the exact items that you want to order before you arrive so that you can make an intelligent, informed decision.

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Know What to Avoid

Regardless of which restaurant you decide to visit, there are several things that you should avoid if you want to make healthy choices. For example, fried foods, breaded foods, and foods covered in sauces may be loaded with sugars, fats and calories unnecessarily. Consider asking for a grilled alternative, and order sauce on the side if this is an essential ingredient for the meal. This way, you can control how much of the sauce you eat.

Preparing healthy meals at home may be a smart idea, but it is not always desirable or convenient. You can eat at restaurants and follow a healthy diet when you incorporate these tips into your dining plans. It may also be helpful to find a few healthy options at the restaurants that you frequently visit so that you visit these establishments and enjoy a meal hassle-free.