Whether it is a rushed fast food meal, lunch in the company cafeteria with co-workers and friends, a pizza order at a friends or a casual family dinner at a restaurant, eating out is no longer reserved for special occasions. In fact, dining out has become an essential part of our lifestyle today and kids and teenagers especially enjoy it a lot.

People do not dine out just for the sake of eating and quenching their hunger, but they dine out because it excites the senses. Everyone enjoys eating out, especially with loved ones, socializing with friends, family and colleagues, enjoying every moment by experiencing flavours that cannot be prepared at home. Above all, some people simply dine out to enjoy and have fun!

Despite all the fun and excitement, one of the major drawbacks in dining out can be indulging yourself and overloading on calories. The more you eat away from home, the greater the impact of those meals or snacks have on your overall health and diet. Today, restaurants, takeaways, bars and pubs offer a huge variety of meals and dining options to choose from. Whether you are looking for fast food, or specific cuisines like Chinese, Italian, French, Thai or Continental, you can find one close by. It all depends on what you order for yourself; because these meals and snacks you eat away from your home can not only be enjoyable and great tasting but they can also be healthy. So no matter where and when you plan to dine out, make sure you keep these smart dine out tips in mind to avoid the urge to splurge and over eat, which can be harmful for your overall health. These dining out tips will not only help you choose a wholesome meal, but they will also make sure that what ever you order does not affect your health negatively.

Go with a “smart-eating” mindset – This will help you sort through the menu faster and avoid straying from your plan. If you have already had a heavy meal during the day, then order something light.

Avoid skipping meals during the day to “save up” for an evening out – If you are planning to go out on a dinner party, then do not skip breakfast or lunch just to save up. Most people find it easy to over indulge at restaurants, especially if they are feeling hungry. Skipping a meal during the day is not a good approach, as the food you eat out at a restaurant or party will usually be more in calories and will have a high fat content, which can lead to health problems.

Order half or medium portions – Some restaurants offer half, medium and full portion meals. If you are not feeling very hungry or are being conscious about your health, order a medium or half portion to cut on calories and fat. If half or medium portions are not available, you can always split your order with a friend or have the rest of it packed away to take home.

Balance your nutrients – If you are in a habit of dining out frequently, make sure you balance your nutrient intake by ordering different dishes every time. For example, if you order a meat or chicken dish today, go for a vegetarian one the next day. Picking your favourite dish every time, like steaks or fish and chips is a not a healthy habit.

Choose a meal with food variety – Every time you dine out, and are ordering a full meal, try to balance it out. For example, if the main dish has a higher fat content, order a salad or accompaniment which is low fat. Ordering fresh fruit or dessert after your meal is also a good idea. When dining out, you have to make trade-offs in your daily routine, for example if you have had a heavy lunch at office, then you can cut back on calories when you come back home for dinner.

Ordering complimentary breads and crackers before your meal – Some people cannot simply resist the complimentary breads, crackers and cheese sticks which most restaurants offer before the food is served. If you are conscious about your health, it is not necessary to finish the whole basket. You can simply take a few and then leave the rest for friends or ask the attendant to take the basket away.

You should also go easy on the dips, butter and sauces served with breads as they are also rich in salts, calories and fat. Instead of dipping the whole cracker or cheese stick in the dip, use your fork to take a portion of the sauce or dip instead.

Always order salad – Most restaurants offer a do-it-yourself salad bar where you can find a wide variety of salads available. However, be careful what you choose from the salad bar as salad dressings, croutons, cheese, noodles, pasta and creamy sauces and dips can have more calories in them than a usual meal. Lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage and other fresh vegetables are safe choices so always take larger portions of raw veggies, fruits and beans and less of pasta, toppings and dressings.

Choose your meal according to your health – If you have a health problem such as hypertension, heart problem or diabetes, always be careful about what your order. For example, go for grilled, baked, barbecued or steamed meals instead of going for deep fried foods such as fish and chips.

Enjoy your food! – Dining out should be fun and exciting whether you dine out alone or with family and friends. So savour every bite and relish the flavours and aromas of what ever you eat, making each meal an exciting and wonderful experience.

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