If a menu does not provide you with a healthy alternative, speak up. It might just
be that the alternative meals have simply not yet been added to the menu. Still,
do not be afraid to ask your waiter or the chef/cook for an alternative preparation.
Ask for dressings on the side, choose whole-wheat breads, or ask if there is an
alternate (healthier) way of preparing your entrée.
Keep an eye on your portions. Eating a healthy meal does you no good if you eat
two servings of it. Most restaurants actually give you more than a standard portion
of a particular meal. That grilled chicken dish may be for one person, but it might
often be enough for two people or two servings. If the restaurant provides you with
the option, opt for the half-order, or ask if half of your meal can be set-aside
to be taken home. If the restaurant cannot, or will not split your meal, wait until
the plate is in front of you and do so yourself.
As the old saying goes, sharing is caring. When you go out to eat, sharing a meal
with your date, partner, friend, or significant other can be a great (and romantic)
option. Not only will you eat a smaller portion, but the check will be half of what
it might have been. Sharing a meal might also leave you with a little more room
for dessert, although you should probably share that too.
At the end of the day, going out to eat does not have to be a restricting experience.
It is important to remember though, that it is also not an excuse to break your
healthy eating habits. Many people wok very hard to achieve a particular physical
condition, and making a few bad choices at a restaurant can easily work against
all of that hard work. The bottom line is to relax, enjoy your meal and your time
away from home, but remember the big picture. You can still enjoy a nice restaurant
dinner, and with a few smart decisions, you don't have to feel guilty afterwards.