YES…you can still enjoy all of the amazing restaurants the world has to offer while maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle!  Especially in the summer, I can never get enough of meeting up with friends and spending time sitting outside at a restaurant or café.  Being healthy does not mean you have to stay home and always cook for yourself.  Don’t get me wrong, a home cooked meal is great for the soul, but it is also beneficial to get some fresh air, sunshine, and social interaction.  No one wants to feel secluded or deprived trying to create a healthy lifestyle so I would like to share some tricks I have learned along the way that have helped me have my cake and eat it too!

1) “A menu is only a suggestion” This is a philosophy I have used for as long as I can remember being old enough to order for myself.  My friends and family will confirm that it is quite rare for me to order what is exactly on the menu, but I always enjoy what I end up with.  It is about knowing what you want and being creative.  If there is an ingredient or two you don’t want, ask if they will replace it with something else you see in another entrée.  As long as the menu doesn’t say “no substitutions” and you ask nicely they should not have a problem…there may just be an additional charge, but you’re worth it!

2) Special Menus.  Always let your server know about any food allergies or diet restrictions you may have so that they can help you choose suitable items from the menu.  In addition, most restaurants have special menus or additional options available such as, gluten free or vegetarian.  Just remember to ask about them because they are not usually provided initially and may not be advertised.

3) Research and prepare. When possible, try to research a restaurant before you go to see what you may like on the menu.  This way you can enjoy the company you are with rather than worrying about deciding what you are going to order.  If you notice there are not many healthy options to choose from try to eat a small salad before or you can always order an appetizer with a couple sides instead of a full entrée.

4) Introduce people to new experiences.  Don’t be afraid to introduce healthy restaurants to your friends as you and they may be surprised by how enjoyable it can be!  Make it an adventure and share and split items off the menu so you can experience a variety of new flavors.  Whenever I take people to Pure Food and Wine in New York City, which is 100% raw, they are always astonished by how satisfied they are and that items such as cheese and ice cream made of nuts and seeds can look and taste so similar to the real thing, if not better!

5) Wine for Dessert! After dinner it is always tempting to order something sweet, especially since the dessert menu or tray is brought over to entice you.   Something that works for me when I don’t want to indulge in dessert is to wait to order a glass of wine for dessert.  This always helps me to focus on the food during the meal while looking forward to a nice glass of wine later on.  An added benefit is that you save money by drinking less and skipping an expensive dessert.