Patient Information --> Medical and Surgical Information --> Healty Lifestyle Changes --> Dietary and Activity Guidelines --> Eating Out

When eating out in a restaurant you should remember that you are the patron. Ask questions about ingredients and how foods are prepared. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW and request that items be fixed in a healthy manner.

KEEP IN MIND: Avoid choosing foods prepared with saturated fats and/ or cholesterol. Often the way foods are described on the menu gives you a clue that they may be prepared with saturated fats and/ or cholesterol. Avoid foods listed as:

• "Buttery", "buttered" , "in butter sauce"
• "Sauted", "fried", "pan fried", "crispy"
• "Creamed", "in cream sauce", "in its own gravy", "hollandaise"
• "Au gratin", "in cheese sauce",
• "Escalloped"
• Some marinades can be oil based and contain a fair amount of fat. You may wish to avoid eating excess amounts of oil- based marinades.

TIPS ON ORDERING:

• Go easy on the bread and spreads to avoid consuming calories and fat before your main dish is even served.
• Ask for sauces and gravies on the side.
• Watch out for hidden calories in the salad. Ask for dressings on the side. Limit high-fat dressings to 1 T. and low-fat or vinegar-based dressings to 2 T. Most people use around 4 T. of dressing on a salad, which can add 300-400 calories and 500 mg sodium.
• Choose a low fat appetizer (one that is not fried or served in a rich sauce) as a main course to cut back on portion sizes, or limit sizes of meats, fish or poultry to 4-6 ounces (about the size of a deck of cards).
• Choose items prepared in a low fat manner: Boiled, Broiled, Poached, or Steamed.
• Order A La Carte or share an entree with a friend.
• Request that food be prepared without added salt.
• When you are full, stop eating and signal the server to remove your plate so that you are not tempted to continue nibbling.
• Order foods as you want them prepared. For example, when ordering a stir-fry dish, don't be shy about asking that the oil & soy sauce be used lightly.

AND REMEMBER: It's all a matter of balance. When you eat out, be aware of your prior food choices that day. You may need to eat less at one meal so that you can eat more at another.

*** Most Importantly... Enjoy The Experience***