If you’re trying to lose weight or make healthier eating choices, you may think that dining out is off the menu.

However, you would be wrong. There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy eating out without sabotaging your health kick; you just need to make the right food choices. Modern restaurants offer a myriad of healthy and delicious meals suitable for any dietary type (keto, paleo, gluten-free, diabetic, and much more). Also, try ready-to-eat meals from Ideal Nutrition that are convenient to bring to work or while travelling.

From skipping dessert to exercising portion control, read on to discover the nine top tips for eating out when you’re on a health kick – your waistline and your wallet will appreciate it!

1. Check the Menu Before You Arrive

Making a quick, last-minute decision, especially when you’re watching your diet, can be stressful. Therefore, to avoid feeling put on the spot and under pressure, take the time to check out the menu before you arrive at your chosen restaurant.

When you pre-select the items that you’re going to order, this enables you to make your food choices without others influencing you and without feeling the need to make a decision in a matter of minutes.

2. Stick to 1 or 2 Courses

When you eat at home, you’re highly unlikely to prepare 3, 4, or even five courses, so why would you feel the need to do this when eating out? If you’re on the way to limiting your calorie intake, it’s a much better idea to restrict yourself to just one or two courses.

Ideally, unless you plan to order fresh fruit or a low-calorie sorbet, the best course to forgo is dessert. These dishes are often high in fat, sugar, and calories.

3. Keep It Lean

The selected protein options should consist of chicken or turkey, preferably without added fat. Remove skin from meats because doing so reduces the amount of calories found in fatty cuts. People who avoid eating meat should choose fish combined with legume-based vegetarian dishes instead of consuming animal proteins.

Choose steamed or boiled protein meals, as these preparations typically reduce calorie and fat content compared to deep-fried options.

4. Order Side Veggies

To avoid excessive hunger while maintaining a healthy diet, order one or two vegetable side dishes, such as spinach or green beans, which will provide satisfying portions without excess calories.

Request that your vegetables be served without butter, cheese, or oil to prevent them from becoming unhealthy choices that increase their fat content.

5. Limit Your Alcohol Intake

It goes without saying that if you’re on a health kick, you should try to limit the amount of alcohol that you drink. Often referred to as “empty calories,” alcoholic beverages are often high in sugar, which can significantly increase the overall calorie count of your dining out experience.

Instead, try to drink water or another low-calorie alternative, and if you really must have an alcoholic drink, opt for a low-calorie option such as gin and slimline tonic or a glass of champagne.

6. Drink Water Before and During Your Meal

Most people mistake their dehydration signals for hunger because their thirst signals are often mistaken for food cravings.

The right approach to water consumption during meals is to drink small amounts often, rather than having large quantities before and during eating, as this allows for better digestion and recognition of fullness.

7. Ask How the Food Is Prepared

The method of cooking a dish can significantly impact its nutritional value and calorie content. If you’re not sure how something is going to be prepared, there’s nothing wrong with asking your server to check this for you in the kitchen.

If you’re eating at an establishment where you can see the chefs in their chef aprons with pockets, then you can ask to speak to them directly.

As mentioned briefly earlier, you should avoid foods that are fried, or worse, deep-fried, and focus on dishes that are cooked using minimal amounts of butter or oil.

8. Avoid Buffets

People who struggle with food restraint during dining should avoid all-you-can-eat buffets, as it's easy to overindulge there. Although these restaurants give excellent deals, they will not support your weight management goals.

If you do need to visit such a place, opt for proteins like prawns, chicken, or red meat instead of high-carb options like white pasta and rice.

9. Exercise Portion Control

The healthy eating journey requires exercising portion control when dining out. Restaurants often present large portions to customers, yet you are not forced to finish everything on your plate.

Pay attention to your body's signals that indicate fullness and stop eating, even if there is unfinished food on your plate.