Employee Health & Wellness: Healthy Eating at Your Favorite Restaurants

Having a healthy relationship with food includes being able to enjoy meals you love. Visiting your favorite restaurants often has a negative association, but that does not have to be the case. There are many positives to going out to eat, such as saving time by ordering takeout or enjoying the company of family and friends at a restaurant. Either way, being mindful of healthy eating habits and preparing beforehand can help with eating “on the go.”

One way to prepare is to look up the restaurant’s menu ahead of time. This allows you to take your time, view the nutrition facts and make a decision before you even arrive at the restaurant. Experts suggest that viewing the menu beforehand allows one to plan meals accordingly for the rest of the day, helping to keep the meals within a recommended caloric intake.

Another popular way to make healthy meal choices while eating out is to order something from the low-calorie menu, which may include some of your favorite dishes prepared with less added sugar, salt and/or fat, satisfying both your taste buds and your hunger.

Some people may think it is healthy to “save” their calories when they plan to eat out by avoiding other meals throughout the day. This is a common misconception. Experts actually recommend eating small meals or snacks throughout the day to prevent overindulgence as a result of having waited all day to eat. Filling up on fruits, vegetables and portion-controlled meals throughout the day can keep you on track.