How to Stick to Your Diet While Eating Out

Let's face it- when you're eating out at a restaurant it's almost impossible to resist all the delicious fattening foods on the menu and at other tables. One meal at a restaurant can easily add up to a day's requirements of calories if you're not careful. However, it's possible to get great tasting food without all the calories if you know what to order.

1.Order water as a beverage! Ordering soda or alcoholic drinks have nearly hundreds of calories from sugar and other empty calories. Also ordering soda or an alcoholic beverage may make you hungrier. If the temptation for a more flavorful drink strikes, try to order hot green tea (to optimize weight loss) without adding sugar or milk/cream.

2.Skip the bread basket.

3.If your meal comes with a salad, opt for low-calorie dressing or if low-calorie dressing is unavailable use a tiny amount of dressing "on the side". If your meal comes with soup, opt for a vegetable soup.

4.Don't order an appetizer, unless it is a small one with lots of fruits and vegetables. That way, you will be full of healthy food by the time your meal arrives and opt to eat less.

5.Split an entre with your dining partner so you're both eating a smaller portion. You'll not only save on calories but consume less of your pocketbook too.

6.If you do order an entre for yourself, ask the waiter to bring a to-go box up front. That way you can cut your plate in half and box up part of your meal from the beginning without overeating.

7.Most restaurants have a menu for Weight Watchers, Atkins, or those who are trying to watch their weight. These menus are especially good because they tend to list the amount of calories per meal. If your restaurant doesn't have a menu like this, opt for a salad or chicken/fish with two non-starchy vegetables, but beware of fatty dressings and meat!

8.Chew. Slowly. This allows your food to digest and register in your stomach as "full" before you continue to eat. Chew about 20 times per bite, or until the food is fully dissolved.

9.Remember, you're at a restaurant! Instead of spending time eating, talk to whoever you came with. It will make everybody happier.

10.Skip dessert. If you really need something sweet, order fruit (if it's on the menu), have a few bites of someone else's or buy low fat ice cream at the supermarket to eat at home. Some restaurants (like Applebee's Weight Watchers menu) do carry low-calorie desserts.

11.Depending on when you're going out, make sure you stop eating 3 hour before you plan on going to sleep.

12.Leave the restaurant feeling great- not only because you ate less, but you saved cash by not ordering an appetizer or dessert! Congratulations!

Tips

Realize that you are at the restaurant to replace a normal meal that you would be eating at home and order accordingly.

If it's not a very formal restaurant, bring some sugar free gum to chew on while that appetizer is tempting you.

While you're sitting do some ab vacuums & butt clenches, not only will you be occupying your time, but getting a better abdomen and butt while you're at it!

Sit straight. It doesn't hurt to look thinner and taller.

When you’re finished with your first glass of water, don't order a less healthy drink, thinking you "deserve it". Keep the water coming!