Eating out is fun, social and a great way to spend time with your family and friends. Sometimes eating out is based on necessity - maybe you are too busy or just don’t feel like cooking. We've all been there!

Whatever your reason is for eating out, follow these simple tips to keep your discipline.

Only eat half of your meal and bring the other half home
Enjoy a salad while others eat appetizers
Order salad dressings and sauces on the side
Request lemon, vinegar or balsamic instead of salad dressing
Avoid butter, sour cream, mayonnaise, bacon, cheese
Choose steamed veggies instead of sautéed
Substitute vegetables or sweet potato instead of white potatoes or fried
Watch out for fried, deep-fried, golden fried, battered, etc.
Avoid fast food
Eat out sparingly!

Italian Food

Avoid: alfredo, cream sauces, parmigiana, stuffed with cheese, butter with bread, extra grated cheese
Better Choices: grilled, marinated, tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato sauce, light red sauce, wine sauce, white or red clam sauce

Chinese Food

Avoid: cashews or peanuts, pork, fried or deep-fried, crispy, sweet & sour, MSG
Better Choices: vegetables, seafood, chicken, shrimp, pineapple, soy sauce, plum sauce, Chinese mustard, light wine sauce, lobster sauce, non-animal fat oil or hot/spicy peanut oil

Mexican Food

Avoid: sour cream, guacamole, cheese, chorizo, bacon, cream sauce, tortilla, crispy shell, tortilla chips, fried, deep- fried, refried beans
Better Choices: vegetables, sliced avocados, salsa, black beans, enchilada sauce, mole sauce, soft tortilla, pico de gallo, grilled, fajitas, marinated, soft tacos

American Food

Avoid: cheese, blue cheese, bacon, sausage, butter, mayonnaise, fried or deep-fried, bread crumbs, dressings
Whites – white bread, white flour, white sugar, hydrogenated oil
Better Choices: stir-fried, fajitas, blackened, Cajun, fresh lemon, mustard, honey-mustard, jalapeños, barbequed, roasted, poached, steamed, grilled, marinated, char-broiled