Dining Out Idea

One thing that I have noticed when I talk to individuals about improving their nutrition choices is that most people try to make it harder than it needs to be.  One food is not going to make or break your health, nutrition, or weight management goals.  I don’t like to view food as “good” or “bad.  Rather, some foods can be eaten with more freedom than others. Which foods you need to increase, or possibly decrease, in your daily routine depend on your individual needs. What your friends, co-workers, magazines, and 24-7 news cycles say you should or should not be eating needs to be filtered and applied to your current situation.  

Before you decide to turn your world upside down in an effort to have a “healthy diet” or decide to follow the latest diet fad, try looking at an area that I think many people can make large dietary improvements with simple changes. The first is when dining out.  When you don’t know how your food is prepared, it can be a gamble as to what will be consuming. So, a simple idea is to think of the top three places you eat out. Then, look up that establishment’s nutrition information online. Next, think of the top two or three menu items you usually order. Then, compare these. See for yourself if one of your favorite choices is better than the others. I am not saying your choices will be the healthiest option, but if one of these choices is much lower in saturated fat, carbs, calories, sodium – or whatever nutrient you feel is your greatest concern – choose it most often. Also, look to see if there are any options you have never noticed that allow you to increase your fruit or veggie intake. Most people don’t get enough of these, especially when dining out, so make an effort to seek them out. If your favorite restaurants are not chains and do not have nutrition information posted, look at similar types of eating establishments to get an idea of the nutritional value. A site that has great tips on this topic is Hungry Girl. Even if you are a guy, take a peek at this website and all the useful tips. Here is a link to one of the site’s newsletters which offers “hidden horror and smart choices…” Check it out!