Healthier Eating at Parties, Restaurants, and During the Holidays

Let's face it - Americans are fat, and the rest of the world is joining us in our obesity. We have a propensity to over-eat, under-exercise, and demand that which is not good for us, under the guise that it will all make us "feel better". Eventually, it all catches up with us. Heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions related to over-eating are all on the rise. That extra helping may have felt good at the time, but it can't compensate for having to inject yourself with insulin several times a day. Heart attacks don't feel very pleasant either.

It's time to change our diets and our lifestyles. If you want to feel good, you need to start by eat well. This series covers a variety of situations where you must eat, including home, work, and social settings.

Healthier Eating In Social Situations

# 1 - Restaurants

Most of us eat out on occasion. Restaurants can be particularly challenging to anyone who wants to eat a healthy diet. Restaurant food is rich, fatty, salty, and often high in carbohydrates. Restaurant portions tend to be much bigger than you would serve yourself at home.

If possible, choose a restaurant with a wide variety of food options. You're more likely to choose something healthy at a full-service restaurant than at a hamburger joint. Unless you have great willpower, stay away from buffet style restaurants. If you must eat at one, start with a big salad and then move to grilled meats and steamed vegetables. Stay away from anything with sauces, gravies, or breading.

Make good choices when ordering. Many restaurants offer menus that have healthier options marked. Look for grilled or broiled meats or fish, pasta with marinara sauce, or a soup. Choose steamed vegetables and a baked potato instead of fries or rice. Ask for the item to be prepared without salt, if possible. If you have special needs, such as a food allergy or dietary restrictions, be sure to let your server know.

Remember that anything cream-based or with gravy will have many more calories than other options. If you want a cream or gravy-based meal, ask for the sauce on the side so you can control how much you eat.