Eating Out Doesn't Have to Mean Excess
Calories
Who
didn’t eat too
much at least once in the past 30 days?
Yeah, right; me neither.
So
for those of you honest with yourself, realize that
eating out doesn’t have to necessarily equate with eating
poorly. Making wise choices at
restaurants can prevent Americans from consuming hundreds
of extra calories according to expert physicians and
nutritionists.
A
stunning statistic: The average American
consumes close to 50 percent of his or her meals outside
of the home (and fast-food restaurants are
abundant).
When choosing a restaurant, experts
recommend sandwich shops that offer vegetable toppings,
which can add vitamins and nutrients to a quick meal. If
you are a fan of fast-food places, try ones that offer
soup or even chili as an option, particularly ones loaded
with veggies, lean meats and beans. Avoid the cream- or
cheese-based soups and beware the bread bowl, which can
increase the calories by up to
1,000.
Here are a few fast-food menu tips to
help Americans stay
healthy:
- Choose grilled, not fried.
This can save 280 calories and 27 grams of
fat.
- Hold the high-fat extras.
Cheese, mayonnaise and salad dressings can
pack on up to 100 calories per serving. Avoid these
extra ingredients unless low-fat versions are
available.
- Order small sizes. Opt for smaller portions and single
burgers, rather than double or bonus
sizes.
- Avoid sugary drinks.
These empty calories add up quickly and
offer no nutritional value.
- Save half for later.
Wrap up the uneaten portion of your meal
and have it for your next meal to save money and
calories.
SOURCE: Loyola University Health
System, news release, December
2011
HealthDay
|