Healthy Weight Loss and Eating Out - How Can I Combine Them?

So you're on a healthy weight loss diet. That's good but what about your social life? How can you go out with your friends to your favorite restaurants and fast food places if you are on a diet?

There's no need to stop eating out with your friends if you are on a weight loss regimen. Eating out can be healthy as long as you either choose healthy food items or control the portions of what you eat.

If you know where you will be going beforehand, check the restaurant's online menu. They probably have healthy food such as salads, soups, lean meat or vegetable dishes. Look for food that is steamed, boiled, baked, broiled, grilled, broiled or poached. Stay away from fried food or fatty food that is smothered in cream, cheese, butter or gravies and sauces.

Drink water with your meal and not soda. A large glass of soda can contain as much as 450 calories and that would take a big bite out of your daily calorie limit.

Extras can add many unwanted calories. Bread with butter, side servings of French fries, creamy toppings and other superfluous food elements can be ignored.

In many places you can order off-menu or in other words request special dishes that are healthier than their regular menu dishes. When ordering your meal, don't be scared to ask if the dish can be slightly altered. For example, you ask for the chicken to be served skinless or the sauce to be served in a separate pot. Some restaurants also offer diet-friendly versions of their dishes if you ask for it.

There's also no need to order many courses. You might be satisfied with just the main course or perhaps the soup and salad only.

Now about some fishes that are popular. Fried chicken is generally better to avoid than order. This is true for most food that is fried. Surprisingly, steak can be fine if it is lean grilled meat. A delicious lean steak and salad, without any fattening side dishes such as chips or fries can be as little as 500 calories.

However, the dieter who is concerned with a healthy weight loss plan must take care to eat only small portions. Even a lean grilled steak can bee too much if it's a huge piece as big as a baby's head.

Pasta is not bad provided it does not come with creamy sauces. Go for tomato sauces with your pasta.

Vegetables are a good choice but they often come with fattening sauces or dressings. Chose balsamic vinegar rather than salad dressing.

Desserts can be your Waterloo if you cannot resist those sweet cakes and pies. Try to go for fruit salads or sorbets. If you cannot help but yield to temptation, go ahead and eat some of those sweet desserts but at least don't eat a large portion.

It cannot be emphasized too much that portion control is important. Learn what a proper portion size is and stick to it.

A good tip is to eat properly during the day before you go out for dinner. If you starve yourself to "save up" calories, you might arrive at the restaurant too famished too care about your diet.

Regarding binge eating, stay away from buffets entirely! Those are far too tempting because they have such a wide array of dishes to choose from. Even the strongest-willed person who has stuck to their weight loss plan can get overwhelmed by a good buffet. Since buffets are also expensive, there is the additional enticement of eating more to get the most out of your money.

Lastly, look around and explore more restaurant options. Remember that a healthy weight loss plan is forever, so change your dining habits so that you patronize good restaurants that offer healthy food.