Strict nutrition philosophies are not all about healthy eating or denying yourself food you love. Rather, it is having extra energy, being in good mood as well as keeping yourself healthy. All can be attained by learning nutrition basics while using them in the appropriate way. Eating healthy and eating out at a restaurant are hardly complementary activities. Most people refer to eating out as the main reason for unhealthy lifestyle. However, with a bit of preparation and knowledge, one can make a restaurant meal from a feared one to a healthy choice. Below are tips on how to eat healthy while eating out and if followed properly, can be of great help to you.

Be the first in making an order. When friends or colleagues make orders first, individuals are confused of whether their takes are better hence end up falling for the already made orders. This affects ladies in most cases as they prefer taking what their friends opt for. Therefore, if you take an order and it is healthy, it opens up the door for others to enjoy a healthy meal too. A restaurant where one can meet friends and workmates is preferred.

Red flags. Whenever you sit down ready to make an order, examine the menu for red flags. This will help to identify foods with high calories: crispy, breaded, fried, creamy or smothered. Rather, opt for steamed, grilled or even broiled foods. This combination is with no doubt going to be healthy.

Tailor the meal. You should never be afraid to ask for changes in the menu by the server. For instance you can opt for steamed vegetables to French fries. In case your order entail sauce loaded with calories, it is wise to ask it be brought separately or on the side. Through that, you will eat less of it. Dressing salad should be incorporated to the order as it is healthy.

Soup and salad. To minimize eating, it is recommended to first order a salad or soup (broth-based). Research has shown that individuals who take the broth-based soup or the vegetable salad before attending to their meal take less calories for the whole meal session.

Controlling portion. To ensure that one sticks to the appropriate target the knowledge of identifying the right portion is vital. The best portion should not be go beyond the size of the fist and the meat should not exceed the size of the palm. The most preferable is the appetizer in comparison to entree.

Rethink what drink to take. Most people do not take caution on the calories present in the drinks we order. Whether it is glass of tea or alcoholic beverage individuals are not concerned with the content. For instance in sweetened tea, can get 200 to 250 calories. Water in this case is preferred as well as a glass of wine. The water fills us up hence consuming less alcohol.

It is not an easy task to cope with such a menu bearing in mind that one has to do away with their best meals. When one gets to a restaurant, they crave for certain foods and holding on is not as easy as said. It should be noted that the temptations of keeping off from certain orders to stick to healthy food is a sacrifice but worth taking.