Who doesn’t love to eat out?! Sharing life with friends and family over a good meal and no clean up! 
Regardless of how much fun dinner on the town can be restaurants are notorious for salty, calorie-loaded meals that can wreak havoc on your health (especially if you’re dining out regularly!). Thankfully many restaurants are becoming increasingly mindful of those who are more conscious of their health and new restaurants seem to emerge weekly that are health havens without losing the flavor!
Check out my tips for navigating restaurants regardless of where you go and you’re sure to have a good time without feeling lousy later!
- Let the Legend Lead – Many restaurants have a legend on their menu indicating if a dish is low-sodium, free of a specific ingredient, vegan, or vegetarian. However, simply because the dish has a low-sodium or gluten-free icon next to it does not automatically mean its the most healthful option. Try to avoid meals with words like “fried” or “sautéed” since both will be heavy on oil. Rather opt for dishes that use key words such as “steamed”, “baked”, or “broiled”. The firs, and most important aspect, is to identify dishes heavy on vegetables and then work with the following tips.
- Swap out the Sides – It’s easy for the side dishes to load on some serious calories, sodium, sugar, and cholesterol. Don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions. If a sandwich or wrap typically comes with chips or fries try the side salad and steal a few of your neighbors fries (my husband loves it when I do this!)
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- Don’t Get Condiment Crazy – Dips and sauces are typically are sneaky places for plenty of oil, sugar, salt, and dairy. I love a good sauce, but I typically ask for it on the side so I can determine how much I desire to use and don’t be afraid to inquire about the ingredients in that sauce. It may be easy to skip the sauce and see if your dish can be flavored with fresh herbs.
- Get Creative! – If you’re at a restaurant where the main dishes don’t appeal to your dietary choices get creative by compiling several side dishes to serve as your main dish. How about some refried beans, salsa, side salad, and steamed vegetables to create a Mexi-style salad. Or a side of brown rice, steamed vegetables, tofu, and soy sauce for your own little Buddha’s Bowl? Sounds good to me!
- Veg Out! – You may not ascribe to consistently eating a vegan or vegetarian diet but that doesn’t mean you have to overlook them on the menu. More and more restaurants offer fabulously flavorful vegan and vegetarian options using nourishing substitutes like vegetables and tempeh in creative ways. The chef’s creations may just surprise you.
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- Do Your Research – Check out the restaurant where you’re dining in advance. Happy Cow is an excellent website and mobile app that allows you to search for restaurants based on your zip code using categories such as “veg-friendly”, “vegetarian” and “vegan”. Searching for a veg-friendly restaurants ensures you’ll have more choices for all those you dine with.
