Guardian Angel - absolutely, it's all in your head isn't it?

Useful tips you got here. But I like the first tip the most. Planning what to do before getting there is a must especially if you are in a diet or with your children. You save time and most of all, you keep your health.

Carol, I like the second option better. We waste a lot of food as it is. I am all for keeping food out of the trash can!

Someone at my Weight Watchers meeting suggested this for the half you DON'T plan on taking home to eat...

Get creative, play with your food, and make it unfit for human consumption by pouring sugar, salt, ketchup, etc. on the half you're not going to eat, so that you're not tempted to eat it while you're sitting at the table.

Or, if you don't want to take it home with you, have them box it up and give it to a homeless person.

Sarah: 

I found this tip here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/445980

First they are cooked for 8 minutes in the steamer. Then they are put in cold water so they don't overcook. When ordered, they are portioned and steamed with butter and a vegetable seasoning of white and black pepper in the microwave.

Hope that helps!

I wish I knew how Outback Steakhouse prepared their green beans. They were so awesome, even my daughter liked them. Of course I think this means they are no longer healthy, along the same lines as Friday's fried green beans.
 

Checking the menu online was a great tip.

Thank you 

 

I have to watch sodium and protein and getting nutrition information from your favorite chain restaurants before you leave you house is great! After a while you learn what you can and can't eat.

Here are a few definitions for restaurant terms that may be helpful. The following terms usually signal high fat food preparation terms: au gratin or in cheese sauce, batter or deep fat fried, breaded, buttered, creamed, crispy, double crust, French fried, hollandaise, pan fried, rich, sautéed, scalloped, with gravy, mayonnaise, or thick sauce.

Here are a few that signal high sodium food preparation terms: barbequed, cured, in broth, marinated, pickled, smoked, teriyaki, with Creole, cocktail, or soy sauce.

Hope that  this is helpful. Denise Barratt  MS, RD, LDN
Health Concepts Nutrition 

awesome

I like some of these tips, but I was confused that the headline did not include anything saying that the tips were aimed at people trying to lose weight.  Some restaurants don't overdo it on the portions, and people who are underweight or at their ideal weight can benefit from eating the whole portion given and not putting away half right away.

 Special orders?  Good idea.  I believe lots of locally-owned restaurants, especially ones that create different menu specials each day or week, might not have the nutritional information for every meal offered.  Luckily, at least one staff person on the floor probably knows what goes into the pot and can help you choose something healthy for yourself.

And I can't say no to bread.  Often that means I do fill up on my entree faster, which means I have a doggie bag lunch to snack from the next day!  Seems a good economical choice to have a moderate amount of the free bread and then stop eating your entree when you're full.  Just some thoughts from your borderline-underweight friend who gets scolded for not eating more than she does!  ;)

good tips

Baked potatoes are great with salsa!

No butter on carrots i see, but what do you put on your baked potato?

Great tips, eating out is always troublesome for me!

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said, "posting calorie information on restaurant menus could play a major role in slowing the obesity epidemic."

"This study shows that providing restaurant customers with calorie information at the point of purchase could lead to more informed decisions, and have a dramatic effect on reducing the overall obesity epidemic."

 

To get nutrition information from your favorite chain restaurants, check out Wellternatives: http://www.wellsphere.com/wellternatives.s

What a lot of amazing suggestions! Now we have Wellternatives in addition! Make sure to check out our own http://www.wellsphere.com/wellternatives.s to learn about healthy alternatives to your restaurant favorites.

When you first get to a restaurant ask for a glass of water.  Drink this before you eat anything.  Whether you are starving or not this will help squash any hunger pains and help break the urge to eat all the bread before your entree arrives. 

In Chinese restaurants, choose starters such as the grilled dumplings and opt for vegetable based sauces and vegetarian or low fat main courses e.g. chicken/bean curd in black bean sauce or noodles, bean sprouts and courgettes in a spicy sauce. For desserts try fresh fruit such as lychees. Try to avoid deep fried options such as fried pancake or spring rolls, banana fritters as well as egg-fried rice.

In Indian restaurants it's best to pick tomato and onion sauces or dry cooked dishes e.g. tandoori or opt for vegetarian options with lentils and boiled rice. Try to avoid fried options such as bhajis, samosas and fried rice and rich creamy sauces e.g. kormas.

In Thai restaurants avoid deep fried starters and always choose a vegetable side dish. A fish option is a healthy choice or a chicken and vegetable dish. Coconut milk is a saturated fat â?? so avoid having multiple dishes with a rich coconut sauce.  

In Italian restaurants, choose pasta dishes with vegetable and tomato based sauces or fish with vegetables or salads. If you are having pizza opt for vegetarian pizzas and salads. Generally try to avoid pasta with creamy or cheese sauces or pizzas with lots of cheese or cooked fatty meats.  When it comes to pizza, opt for vegetarian toppings if you can.  Those cooked fatty meats are best left off. 

tips from http://instantfeelgood.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-eat-in-restaurants-when-youre-on.html

Putting half away right away, even before you see it if you can, is a great trick.  However, you still need to plan for how you are going to finish off that other half.  If you end up eating it as a midnight snack that night you are probably doing yourself even more harm.  So put away half, but also have a plan for what future meal it will replace.