Spring is here.  Which means summer outfits and bathing suit suit season is just around the corner.  How do you eat out without over eating?

Here are some of our best tips!

Is fast food a must today?  Order a child size.  For example…a Happy Meal with hamburger, fries, and diet coke is 470 calories.  Not the healthiest meal on earth…but it didn’t break the bank when it comes to putting on the lbs.  Compare that to one of the larger adult burgers with large fries….roughly 1300 calories…almost a whole days worth…in just one meal.

If you’re ordering a salad with meat you’re doing great!  Our tip is this…get it grilled…not deep fried.  It saves roughly 100 calories!

When ordering a salad, ask for the dressing on the side.  Since many are high in fat calories this allows you to control the portion.  Our tip…order low fat dressing and use only what you need.  It saves roughly 100 calories!

Order better sides….like double veggies, applesauce, or cottage cheese instead of deep fried sides like fries.

Wrap half of your meal before you start eating…or even share a meal!  Either way you get the benefit of a great dinner without the over abundance of food.

Many major restaurants now have a low calorie/healthy alternative.  Example:  I was at the Village Inn for a breakfast meeting with a friend.  I asked if they had a low calorie selection.  After checking with his supervisor the waiter brought out a special (and completely separate)  menu he didn’t even know about.  I ate an excellent breakfast of whole grain pancakes, fruit, and an omelet for under 500 calories.  All I had to do was ask.

Order Water.  (It’s free!)  You’ll save over 350 calories by not drinking 32 oz of regular pop.  (OK, at least a diet cola. I weaned myself off regular pop by asking them to do 50/50….and they did!  Now I’m off completely.)

Do you know you’re going out that night.  Don’t “save your calories” throughout the day only to enter the restaurant eating everything in sight.  Our tip…eat a healthy snack like an apple, orange, string cheese, or even a hard boiled egg as a part of your regular afternoon routine.  Then, when you enter the restaurant you’re not so ravaging and will have a much easier time ordering a meal in proportion to what you actually need.

Share the dessert.  Or my favorite rule (though not original with me) use the three bite rule when it comes to desert!

Looking to take a bigger step in your health?  Try www.Spark People.com.

1—It takes your age, height, gender, and physical activity all into consideration and shows you how many calories you should consume.

2—It takes what you eat and amount of physical activity you do and turns them into instant stats!

3–It’s free!  (And no, I’m not getting paid to say this.  I actually found it from a friend and use it myself:)

Above all, remember that food is not the problem.  It is a good gift from God and He wants us to enjoy His gifts!  Do enjoy it!  Just remember to enjoy all things in moderation….the right size…the right foods…at the right time.