Read today’s News-Press Column: Become familiar with restaurant menus to keep diet on track

Posted October 13th, 2009 by Elaine Hastings, RD - Nutrition Expert and filed in The News-Press Column

While dining out and dieting may seem like a contradiction in terms, both can be accomplished with some planning and willpower. By focusing more on the company you are with and less on the food, you can create a more enjoyable experience.

The best way to dine out without ruining your diet is to plan ahead and become familiar with the menu. Once you have an idea of what you might order, you can better plan your daily calorie count to accommodate your choices. Most restaurants today provide menus and calorie information on their Web sites.

A few examples are:

Applebees: applebees.com
Bob Evans: bobevans.com
Chili’s: chilis.com
Olive Garden: olivegarden.com
Outback Steakhouse: outback.com
Perkins: perkinsrestaurant.com
Red Lobster: redlobster.com

In order to make the best decisions while dining out, please refer to the following as some helpful comparisons that allow you to choose delicious foods without adding extra calories and fat.

By planning ahead, reviewing your menu choices and staying within your allotted calorie intake, you can make good choices and stay within your diet.

- Elaine Hastings is a registered dietitian and owner of Associates in Nutrition Therapy in Fort Myers. Contact her at http://www.associatesinnutrition.com/ or Elaine@eatrightRD.com.