How to Recognize Healthy Restaurant Meals on the Menu

You can order a healthier restaurant meal simply by looking for the fattening cues in the menu. According to webmd.com, certain keywords in a menu's description in a meal can alert you to the calories you will inevitably be consuming. Simply going over the menu (without just looking at the pictures) can save you a ton of calories.

Look for (and therefore avoid eating) meals that contain words like 'sauteed', 'crispy' (which means fried), 'buttery', 'cheesy', 'pan-fried', 'creamy', and 'battered' in the item's description. Crispy, buttery shrimp do not a healthy meal make, and are a dead give-away that you will be eating tons of unwanted calories should you choose these types of entrees.

Instead, look for friendlier diet terms like 'boiled', 'broiled', 'lightly', (as in lightly sauteed, buttered, battered, etc), 'baked', and 'seasoned', which will typically pertain to herbs rather than butters and salts. These types of meals will usually be tastier and healthier than fatty alternatives, and help you avoid eating those extra calories you are trying to avoid.

Remember this as well- not only are those drinks hidden calories as well, but they are pricey. Stick to water with lemon or lime, and you can save upwards of 200 calories per 8 ounces. Also, avoid anything in the appetizer section of your menu- not only are these items likely to fill you up before your main course anyhow, but they are often the most fattening items on the menu!

And if you're getting dessert, split that sucker with someone else so you can share the calorie love.

Sources:

personal perusing of a menu

webmd.com