Outsmarting Dining Out

Dining out is fun, especially around the holidays. You have all your friends and family there to share a great meal with you and the best part is: YOU didn't have to cook! It seems perfect...until you check out the nutrition facts for the menu you're staring down. f the restaurant you're at was even nice enough to provide them anyway.

The best way to literally have your exquisite restaurant food and eat it too is to do the research before you go. Almost every chain restaurant posts its nutritional information online, or at the very least many have a listing of lighter fare or low calorie menu options. I'll give a few examples at some well known chains you might be visiting this month with your family:

Applebees: This place has plenty of lighter options, especially with their Weight Watchers entrees and a new full line of lower calorie dishes. Check out their menu on their website and pick out what you want before you get there. But definitely HOLD the appetizers. Instead, save room for one of their dessert shooters. :)

TGI Fridays: They don't have much in the way of light and low calorie options, but the two that they do have are delicious. My favorite is the Dragonfire Chicken. The Shrimp Key West is also a good option, especially for those watching their carbs.

Cheesecake Factory They have gargantuan and delicious "weight management" salads. These are perfect because you'll definitely be full after enjoying them, so there won't be any feelings of dissatisfaction one might normally assume comes from eating off the "diet" menu. Just avoid the bread baskets and try to have dessert at home, since none of their cheesecakes dip below the 600 calorie mark.

Plenty of other restaurants will have the same sources of menu information available. Just take the time to pick what you want before you get there, when you have the nutritional information in front of you. That way, you can order with confidence and not have to wonder if what you're eating will undo your workout for the entire week (with some dishes maxing out at over 2000 calories just by themselves-aka cheesecake factory pasta dishes).

Bon Appetit!!