With the holiday season upon us dining out will be even more frequent. If you don't want your belly to end up looking like Santa's, you need to know what you're eating!Those “nutrition police” are always at it, exposing horrors on our dinner plates. Items like a 2000 calorie burger or unsuspecting appetizer or 1000 calories for a specialty coffee. Considering most people need less than 2000 calories per day, it’s no wonder Americans are battling the bulge! The researchers at CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) call these dishes " x-treme". Do we really need these? Unless you're in training for your next eating contest, these foods aren't going to be the best choice for your diet or health. One of my favorite parts of the video clip in their article is seeing just how much other food you can have instead. Who would ever think that a chicken & broccoli pasta entrée could contain as much fat and calories as 2 sirloin steaks (12 oz each), 2 baked potatoes with butter and 2 Caesar salads?! That’s two pretty big meals!
So what’s a consumer to do? You have to be informed to make the best decisions. Here are some tips to help: Select restaurants that have healthier options, many have online menus you can review beforehand. Look for the “lite” selections on the menu. These usually list fat and calories. Ask your server how things are prepared. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes like no cheese or sauce, a different dressing or baked instead of fried.
Still determined to have that 2000 calorie dish? Then share with a friend or bring half (at least) home for another meal. If you don't, be prepared for some "x-treme" consequences on your scale! -Renee Labels: healthy eating, Portion Control, Renee
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