FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Eating Out? 21 Words to Watch Out For on Your Menu:

1. fried
2. breaded
3. rich
4. au gratin
5. basted
6. battered
7. bottomless
8. all-you-can-eat
9. scampii
10. cheesey
11. casserole
12. combo or combination
13. crispy
14. crunchy
15. giant
16. loaded
17. platter
18. smothered
19. value
20. creamy
21. alfredo or hollandaise

And 15 Words That May Mean Healthier Food:
1. Baked
2. Boiled
3. Broiled
4. Steamed
5. Fresh
6. Child-sized
7. Grilled
8. High Fiber
9. Marinated
10. Multi-Grain
11. Brown (gravy doesn't count!)
12. Marinara
13. Roasted
14. Seasoned
15. Vegetarian

(taken from http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=115&page=2 )

10 Tips for Out to Eat:
1. Ask for the waiter to bring a box when he brings your meal, then quickly divide it and save the rest for later before you even start eating

2. Before you go, research, research, research. Go to http://www.dwlz.com/ or http://www.calorieking.com/ to make sure you're armed with information.

3. Decide what to order before you get to the restaurant.

4. Share your order with someone else or draw a line down the middle of the food with your fork. This is where you will stop eating and ask for a box.

5. Ask for brown rice instead of white, sauce or dressing on the side, whole grain pasta instead of enriched, etc. Don't be worried about seeming like a pain in the neck. After all, you're the customer and you're paying them!

6. Never order a drink or dessert. Grab a carton of sugar-free ice cream on your way home instead. (You'll save TONS of money too!)

7. Remember that going out to eat is usually about the PEOPLE anyway, not the food. Try and focus on relationships and conversations at the restaurant.

8. It sounds funny, but try eating with your opposite hand. It slows you down just enough. Or, you could make a goal in your mind to be the last one finished with your meal.

9. Order from the kids' menu or seniors' menu.

10. Beware the bread basket! Bread and tortilla chips and salsa are PACKED with calories. You could even ask the waiter to just bring you one roll with your actual dinner.