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by Dr. Jo Lichten
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| Sesame
Glazed Salmon Chops at Seasons 52 in Orlando, a restaurant that prides itself
on healthy dishes. Click here
for more information. | Business
travelers eat all of their meals in restaurants. But large meals and fatty foods
don't have to spell nutritional disaster. Here are some tips to eat healthy in
restaurants: 1.
Get it your way. Not only are you paying for the meal, you have to
wear the excess calories. So ask for it your way: -
Order grilled chicken instead of fried on the salad; bean soup rather than refried
beans.
-
Ask the kitchen not to brush your fajitas, steak, chicken or fish with butter.
- Ask
for your pizza to be prepared "light" on the cheese.
- Since
every tablespoon of mayonnaise, dressing, butter, and oil contains 100 calories,
ask for them "on the side" so you can "dip and stab".
- Do
your heart and belly a favor by asking for half the meat and double the vegetables
— even in your stir-fry.
- Special
order a healthier (low fat/calorie, vegetarian or fruit plate) airline meal and
give more than 24-hour notice.
- Ask
for a luncheon or appetizer portion. Many restaurants can accommodate — even
if it's not on the menu. Want eggplant parmigiana? Get the appetizer portion.
2.
Make Miss Manners mad. Perhaps "Miss Manners" would object, but
she doesn't have to fit into your jeans, so: - Trim
off the visible fat on the meat
- Pull
off the chicken skin.
- Scrape
off the breading or excess sauce and drain off the excess butter or oil.
- Pat
the pizza with a paper napkin to remove some of the grease.
3.
Control your portions. Since it's hard not to eat everything that's served,
try these ideas: - Order
a la carte or just tell them what you want (i.e. two enchiladas instead of three).
- Take
a slice of bread and then give the basket back to the server.
- Get
the doggie bag with dinner and immediately put away half your meal. Then leave
the box behind.
- Use
chopsticks. They make you eat slower, so you eat less.
- To
eliminate the temptation to keep nibbling when you've had enough, salt the rest
of your dinner heavily or pour on the hot sauce. (CONTINUE...)
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