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| Tuesday, May 06, 2008 |
| Food Facts that Restaurants Hide from You |
 First they told us about the 20 Worst Foods in America, then I gave you 20 Healthier Alternative to the Worst Food in America, and now Men’s Health is letting us know about Food Facts that Restaurants Hide from You.
Growing up, going out to eat at a restaurant was a big deal. We always had dinner at home as a family, but if mom or dad said we were going out, it was usually some sort of special occasion. Nowadays, with our increasingly hectic lifestyles, eating out is all too common. Although being waited on and not having to do dishes or prepare something is nice, it’s putting a big strain on our waistlines.
So what makes restaurant food so bad? Well, typically it’s the combination of preparation (more fat and salt) and larger portion sizes. Maybe that 20 oz. steak tastes so good because it’s swimming in half a stick of butter? To make matters worse, most people give themselves more freedom when eating out. They have an appetizer or a few pieces of bread with butter before their meal and will often order dessert “just for a treat”. In most cases, this is not something they would be doing if they were eating at home, and at the end of the day the calories add up!
This also makes me think of the ongoing debate in New York City that will require restaurants to post calories on their menus. Why do you think the Restaurant Association is fighting this tooth and nail? Maybe it’s because they don’t want you to know that their Nacho appetizer has 2,700 calories and 90 grams of fat. What you don’t know won’t hurt you right? Wrong!
If you’re trying to lose weight or decrease your risk for developing conditions like diabetes or heart disease, you have to know what you’re putting in your mouth, especially if you eat out on a regular basis. Don’t be afraid to ask how a dish is prepared or request that something be made differently then it appears on the menu.
Here are some basics to get you started:
- If you can, check out the restaurant before you go to see if there are healthy options or if the chef will honor special requests (this information is typically available online).
- Watch your portions! Restaurant portions are usually over-sized so share with a friend, order a lunch/appetizer portion or better yet, get a to-go box with your meal and set half aside when it comes so you aren’t tempted to overeat.
- Look for the words grilled, baked, broiled or steamed and avoid anything that comes fried, sauced or cheesy.
- Ask for sandwiches without mayo or sauce and order salad dressing on the side and use sparingly.
- Lauren Related Article: Do Fast Food Restaurants Contribute to Obesity?Labels: Diet, Eating Out, healthy eating, Lauren, Mindful Eating, Success, Weight Loss
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posted by The Sensei Team @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008   |
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