Dieting and eating out?

If you’re a girl, you’re always on some kind of a diet, right? Even if we’re not, we’re always buying low-fat, fat-free, carb-free, sugarless and skimmed products. Cooking usually involves olive or sunflower oil instead of grease, chicken and fish instead of pork and beef, artificial sweeteners, whole-wheat flour, steaming, grilling instead of frying… We count calories, grams of fat and sugar. We do it almost subconsciously, and the whole thing helps us stay fit, healthy and keeping pounds off.

But what about dining out? Restaurants and fast-food joints can be the no1 enemy of your diet…or not. Examine this tips and tricks on how to eat out and stay on track.

Know what you’re ordering and how’s it prepared. Don’t hold back on questions. It’s your right to know, you’re paying for it. Also, order sauces on the side, or in a separate bowl. If you like a meal, but would like to have it grilled, without salt or similar, just say so.

Portions in restaurants are a few sizes too big, almost always. So, instead of ordering a fixed dish, combine your own from the things you like. It can get only a bit more expensive. Or, split a dish with someone, which is great if you’re dining with a girlfriend.

Try salad as your starter, go easy on appetizers. Take whole-wheat bun instead of a plain one, and don’t add any butter.

Order clear soups, milk instead of cream and put salsa on your potatoes instead of cream or butter. Try seafood or pasta with plain tomato sauce and a lot of herbs for a change.

Drink a lot of water, only a little wine, and mix it with sparkling water. For desert, take a fruit cake instead of chocolate one. Sorbet is a good choice too. If you can’t resist the chocolate delight, share it with someone.

If you’re full and still have some food on your plate, ask for a doggy bag. This way you won’t feel bad for not cleaning up your dish.

Fast food can be tricky. Their salads are not as healthy as you think, they contain croutons, cheese, ham and fatty dressing. Stay away from those, and take your salad plain, with some salt, vinegar or only a half of dressing. Another way to go is veggie burger, small, plain hamburger or fish burger. Order mustard or ketchup with your burger instead of mayo and mysterious special sauce.

Some fast food diners now offer bunless meals. They put your burger, tomato, lettuce and pickles in a plastic plate. If you really have to have (and are craving for it) something fatty, spice it up with some Tabasco, peppers and so on. It’ll speed up the metabolism of fat and neutralise some of it too.

And remember, eat slowly and chew properly (20-30 times for one bite) because it takes about 20 minutes for your body to realise it’s full.