Dining Out Diet Rules

It’s hell trying to eat out when you are worrying about your waistline, h2b to the rescue!

Slimming ideas

• Drink plenty of water before you head out
• Avoid the breadbasket - each slice contains around 75 calories • Replace rice/noodles with another vegetable dish
• Eat only until you are comfortably full rather than bursting
• Think the worst. That is, remember that restaurateurs are in the business of making food tasty, rather than tending to the health needs and waistlines of their customers. This means adding more oil and cream than you would normally
• YouÕre watching your weight, so plan ahead for a big night out by eating light, healthy meals and snacks during the day
• Choose meals that have been grilled, steamed, baked, boiled, stir-fried or poached rather than fried
• Avoid battered and deep-fried food
• Choose lean meats and fish, rather than pies, bacons and sausages
• Sauces based on tomatoes and vegetables are less fatty than those based on cream and cheese
• Go for a healthy dessert, such as sorbet or fresh fruit

The Mediterranean

Food from the Med is generally regarded to be healthy, based as it is on olive oil and pasta. However, itÕs what you put on the pasta that matters. Choose pizza with lower-fat toppings such as vegetables, ham, fish and prawns and try not to add extra Parmesan or oil!

Good choice: vvegetable lasagne, tricolour salad, bruschetta, pasta pomodor.

Bad choice: spaghetti ccarbonara, garlic bread, four-cheese pizza.

The East

Curries are packed with calories because they tend to come with rich, creamy sauces and be served with pappadums and breads.

Good choice: tandoori or Madras with chicken, prawns or vegetables, chicken tikka, biryani.

Bad choice: korma, passanda, massala .

 

Like curries, Chinese meals can pack a calorific punch, as many dishes contain battered food and plenty of oil.

Good choice: steamed fish, chicken chop suey, Szechwan prawns.

Bad choice: prawn crackers, dim sum, spring rolls.

 

Thai food is challenging, with many dishes including coconut-based sauces and fried food.

Good choice: chicken satay (but go easy on the peanut sauce), vegetable or fish-based soups and noodles, gang pa or jungle curry.

Bad choice: green and red curries (which contain coconut milk, high in saturated fat), tempura, panang, mussumun curries.

So eat out and enjoy!