Eating Out

When newspaper articles report on high amount of fat in Chineese, Italian, Indian and Mexican foods, you may feel hard to find a low-fat restaurent meal. Just as at home, though, healthy meals can be had by selecting low-fat options and avoiding high-fat items.

• At Chineese restaurents, eat more rice and vegetables and less meat and sauce. Skip the fried appetizers and choose steamed dumplings or soup.
• At Mexican restaurents, rice and beans, if not refried in fat, are a healthy part of your meal. Chicken soft tacos and fajitas are acceptable too. Skip the fried taco shells and taco salads and limit your intake of sour cream, cheese and guacamole.
• At Italian restaurents, select pastas with tomato based sauces instead of pastas topped with heavy cream and cheese sauces. Pick a salad (with dressing on the side) instead of garlic bread.
• At fast food restaurents, choose a plain burger over one with the works, and hold the cheese. Grilled chicken sandwiches are a good choice if not breaded. Try a salad bar instead of fries, but keep the portion reasonable and choose raw vegetables instead of prepared pasta or bean salads.
• At Indian restaurents, avoid deep fried items, choose steamed idli varieties, avoid roasts. Kababs are good enough. Try wheat meals like chapathi, paratha with lentils. Also avoid ghee sweets.

Choose the right meal for your welfare...