DIETING TIPS FOR DINING OUT

Tips to assist in weight loss when dining out. Size and calories really do matter in the Weight Loss Equation.

Almost anyone that has ever tried to lose weight has been there at one point or another - sitting at a table in a restaurant or standing in line to order at a fast food restaurant, trying to determine which foods will be best to introduce (albeit temporarily) to their diet plan.

After putting so much work into the weight loss process, the central fear is that one meal could either blow their diet plan OR create a situation where they either binge OR worse yet - a situation where they completely give up their aspirations for weight loss.

The downside about dining out is that the recipes are out of our control. We can control the dishes once they get to our plate (or paper bag) but only to a degree.

Here are a few tips that can assist in keeping your diet in focus to prevent weight gain while dining out::

- If you plan to dine out for dinner, eat light throughout the day but don't skip lunch. Doing such will have you arriving at the dinner table in a famished state and you'll be highly likely to overeat only to later regret your actions. In addition, take a stroll after dinner under the moonlight to help burn off extra calories and to simply enjoy the beautiful moonlit walk.

- If you plan to dine out for lunch and you 'overindulge' then consider skipping dinner or enjoying something small, such as a salad, a scrambled egg, a piece of toast, a cup of fruit, or a bowl of cereal.

- Consider choosing an appetizer rather than an entree. Most restaurants are very generous with their serving sizes and so odds are, there will be plenty of food on the appetizer plate.

Your tummy goes through a slight shrinking process while dieting and you may find that less is actually more - or at least it feels that way. Smaller plates trick the eyes into thinking there is more food on the plate, than is - that serving size is quite generous.

Keep in mind that if you aren't full after enjoying your appetizer, you can always order something else. Perhaps a light dessert such as spongecake topped with sliced strawberries or a healthy fruit salad?

- However, be extremely careful with the dessert menu because that little lump of sweetness will probably contain more fat and calories that your entree, and you certainly don't want to pack those extra calories and fat grams into your weight loss plan.

Desserts that contain fruit, such as our suggestion of the fruit salad, are generally a better option as well as a healthier option because at least you'll be getting some nutritional benefits from the fruit.

- Skip the alcohol for it contains many evils, among which is a high caloric content. Opt for water and lemon, or unsweetened tea. Diet soda makes an excellent option when compared to alcohol - so go with the soda.

- Watch the butter and margarine at the table. It's that 'little yellow difference' that can put our diet plan in the red.

- In addition, keep tabs on the amount of sour cream, cream cheese, salad dressing - and particuarly the amount of food contained in those pretty little baskets generally sitting in the middle of our restaurant dining table. Chips will chip away a perfectly good diet plan while salsa is just dandy. Try enjoying as much salsa on one chip as possible and limit your chip consumption.

The other popular appetizer in a basket option when dining out is of course bread in all forms: fresh baked loaves, biscuits, cheesy biscuits, hot rolls and golden cornbread. If you fill-up on these selections you won't be very interested in your meal when it arrives at the table. Consider asking your server to bring your basket with your meal.