Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below are affiliate links meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you purchase something using the link. Read the full disclaimer policy here. Healthier Choices at restaurants can still be a rewarding and fun experience to enjoy. Educating yourself regarding the restaurants that you frequent can be very helpful. You don’t need to avoid going out with your friends to stay healthy, nor is this a realistic approach to adopting a healthier lifestyle and diet long-term. A healthy lifestyle and diet include having strong willpower while still enjoying things you would normally enjoy. For example, avoiding your favorite restaurants altogether may cause negativity and lack of excitement that may lead you to make poor choices anyways, which is why you should always practice and learn how to make substitutions without affecting your enjoyment of the food. The following are four important tips to making healthier choices while dining out: Plan Before You Go Check out the menu online and decide what you want before getting there. Don’t permit yourself to go with the flow. The people you dine with will make a significant impact on your choice. However, going in with a plan and ignoring their choices makes it easier for you to continue to make the right choices. Ask for A To-Go Box At The Same Time You Order Your Meal As soon as your food gets to the table, put half of it in a to-go box. This way, you are sure to control your portions. Most restaurants offer big portions, and you likely don’t need that many calories. If less is on your plate or in front of you, you are less likely to consume more. Watch What You Drink Skipping drinks, especially alcoholic ones, altogether saves you the most on calories. Drinks can quickly add up, even if they seem like small portions. It is best only to drink water when going out to prevent you from having too many refills or making other poor choices that sugar can cause throughout the day. Ask for Sauces, Dressing, and Butter on The Side Further, control your calories by asking them to prepare your condiments on the side. This way, the flavor is accessible but with fewer calories. As you take a bite of your salad or other food that includes dressing, dip your fork first before you grab food. This way, you are grabbing less of the condiment and enjoying more nutritional foods. Even better, ask for the lowest calorie option. Ultimately, the secret to making the right choices at restaurants lies in preparation and a commitment to not ignoring it. As long as you get prepared, know what you want, and don’t get persuaded by peer pressure, you can stick to a healthy diet and still enjoy eating out.

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