Healthy eating out tips

When on diet or just motivated to eat healthy, many people try to avoid eating out. Sometimes people are even forced to eat out due to business, social and other work-related reasons.

No need to stress about eating out or eating ‘unhealthy’ dishes just for keeping up the pretences not to embarrass or insult guests or business partners.

By choosing wisely and correctly, you can still eat out and even eat healthier than at home. Here is some tips:

Starters and light meals

·         Chose salads with no dressing or mayonnaise

·         Avoid bacon, croutons, and cheeses. Smoked chicken, smoked salmon, tuna or seafood, Greek, etc. are good alternatives.

·         Enjoy stock-based soups or thick vegetable soups with no cream garnish.

·         Fruit cocktails, melon balls or fruit platters are very healthy

Main course

·         Try to avoid combination dishes such as lasagna or mousaka because such dishes are often made with sauces, which are usually high in fat. Order plain separate food items, such as grilled fish, baked potato and steamed vegetables.

·         Pastas with tomato-based sauce are advisable.

·         Order your pizza with half the cheese or even with no cheese - have toppings like tomato (fresh or sun-dried), onion, green pepper, garlic, chili, mushrooms, asparagus, ham, pineapple, banana, chicken,  sprinkling of feta, spinach, olives, egg, tuna, anchovies, seafood. Best is to avoid salami, bacon, sausage, mince and cheese. A sprinkling of feta with the above fillings and no mozzarella is very tasty.

·         Steak is good, but then it must be plain – no sauces. Best is to choose a fillet, sirloin or T-bone rather than a rump. It is often a good idea to order the ladies’ portion

·         Choose grilled or poached fish rather than a fish in a batter and have the white, lower fat fish like hake, sole, etc. rather than the oily fish like salmon, mackerel, etc. Grilled seafood is also a good option without the mayonnaise’s or tartar sauce.

·         Vegetarian food is generally very healthy but is often fried or covered in cheese sauces. Ask questions and try to avoid oily, fatty cheeses!

·         Go for steamed rice, baked or steamed vegetables instead of chips, fried rice or roast potatoes with your meal. Avoid sauces and gravies

·         Sushi is a popular low fat option.

Dessert

The following can be recommended:

·         Cappuccino with a milk froth (skimmed or low fat preferably)

·         Crème caramel

·         Frozen yogurt

·         Fruit salad with yoghurt

·         Sorbet or low fat ice cream

Just as at home, you can even manage the sizes of the portions on your plate – it is your money and any restaurant will honour your requests.

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