Healthy Eating Tips for Eating Out – Ordering a half (or small) portion of fatty foods
Eating out should be fun and enjoyable – so you should allow yourself to have the foods that you want. Foods that tend to be high in fat (chips, fried food, creamy sauces, desserts etc) should not be cut out – but you do need to ensure the amount served is under your control.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
- “If I’m paying full price I should get all of my order” – Why not share those fries with someone at the table? You can then split the price when you come to pay. Portions in restaurants are often on the large size – so getting served half does not necessarily mean getting ‘short changed’.
- “The restaurant won’t do that” – There’s no reason why they shouldn’t. In fact, it would be economically beneficial for them to do so – so go ahead and make that request.
Tips & Tricks
- Ask your waiter to serve only half an order – if it’s not on the table, you won’t be tempted to eat it
- If you have the will power, order as usual and then leave, or give away, half the portion – for reasons of etiquette, you divide and let the other diner choose (hopefully the larger portion!)
- If you want to have fries with a meal, go for it – but ask for half a portion to be served.
- You may also be doing a fellow diner a favour by suggesting they share a ‘fatty’ side dish with you – most of us are watching our weight!
- Consider sharing a particularly ‘unhealthy’ main course with someone – and order a salad and/or a low fat side order to go with it.
- Main courses can sometimes be served as a starter – so order this size as your main course. Add some side dishes such as vegetables, new potatoes or half an order of fries (don’t forget to ask if the vegetables or potatoes are served in butter – if they are, ask for them to be served without).
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