| We Americans have gained a lot of weight in the | | | | if you want to share a discount meal, dessert, or |
| last 20 years. And at the same time we are | | | | appetizer with a friend (see below), this could be |
| eating out at restaurants more often. According | | | | smart. |
| to surveys we are spending almost half of our | | | | - Be careful when you select a salad dressing. |
| food dollar outside the home. | | | | These can range from 80 to 300 calories without |
| Selecting a healthy meal has never been more | | | | there appearing to be much difference. Ask the |
| important. Knowing which menu choices are low | | | | wait person to give you details. |
| calorie or high fat may not be obvious. Salad | | | | - Keep an eye on condiments, dips, sauces and |
| dressings, for example, may have many more | | | | spreads. These include tasty extras such as onion |
| calories than you would think. Yet with the few | | | | dip, tartar sauce, mayonnaise, syrup, jelly and |
| following simple tips you can get a handle on belt | | | | gravy. These can add a huge number of calories |
| busting dishes and instead stay slim and trim. | | | | to a sensible meal. For example, McDonald's |
| - The first and most important consideration is | | | | restaurant suggests that you order one of their |
| portion size. Avoid getting the next bigger steak, | | | | hamburgers without the special sauce to save 100 |
| super-sizing, or adding a combo dish that is more | | | | calories. |
| food than you want. | | | | - You might consider sharing. You should never |
| - Don't forget that your eyes are bigger than | | | | feel embarrassed or self-conscious. Most |
| your stomach. People tend to order more when | | | | restaurants will not object and the waiter will not |
| they are hungry. When you walk into a | | | | look at you cross-eyed. This is an easy way to |
| restaurant, you are probably starved. Order the | | | | cut calories and portion size by fifty percent. |
| smallest portion you can live with; later if you still | | | | - Don't get talked into ordering a dessert or an |
| want more food, get more. | | | | appetizer that you don't want, even though the |
| - Never buy just because it is a good deal. Save | | | | food is a good deal. Waiters and waitresses are |
| your bargain hunting for clothing stores. While I | | | | often trained to suggest more food. If you are |
| am a great believer in saving money, eating more | | | | full, don't do it. |
| food than you need is not a good idea. However, | | | | |