When you try to limit your eating, or go on a diet for lack of a better term, you typically try to refrain from eating out. That’s because restaurants provide too much temptation and, let’s face it, restaurant nutrition isn’t typically conducive to losing weight. It is possible, however, to eat out and still make good decisions. Don’t hesitate to ask your server or a manager for the food nutrition facts if you don’t see them on the table. When you have the food nutrition facts you can make decisions that stay within your particular eating plan and still enjoy a meal out.
What are You Looking For?
When you ask for food nutrition facts, many restaurants will provide you with a sheet of paper or a card stating the calorie content of the various foods on the menu, the fat, sodium and even the carbohydrate content. So if you are looking for low fat items, it will be easy to know which menu items will suit you. Always ask for condiments and sauces on the side, since they can add a lot of calories to your meal, as well as fat, sodium, and sometimes carbs. Even salads may look fattening on the food nutrition facts, but usually that is because they are including the dressing in the total.
If They Don’t Have Nutrition Facts
When there are no available food nutrition facts, you can still make a smart ordering decision if you now some basic facts about nutrition. You know for instance, that a double bacon cheeseburger and fries is not going to be your best weight loss option. A smart option might include a grilled chicken sandwich with a small salad or baked potato without sour cream.
Most large restaurant chains do have food nutrition facts. You may just have to ask for them. The reason you have to request them is that many restaurant owners believe that if the food nutrition facts are placed on the menus next to the food items, some people would be dissuaded from eating the ones with the most fat or calorie content. Most people would change their minds instantaneously if they knew before ordering exactly how much fat and salt was in a menu item they normally enjoy.
