Tips on Managing Your Cholesterol Levels: Eating Out? Eat Healthy!

Cholesterol - conscious? Then dining out is probably a bit of a challenge for you - especially if you're the sociable sort who never runs out of lunch or dinner dates during the weekend. It's easy to forget healthy eating habits when you're surrounded by people who don't give much thought to what they stuff inside their tummies. Admit it, munching on your low - fat salad is no fun when your best friend is wolfing down a big, juicy burger. With these eating - out tips, you just might be able to enjoy your meals a little bit more, minus the guilt.

1.) Get friendly with the waiter - start up a conversation before ordering. Study the menu. Ask the restaurant what type of fat they use to cook most of their foods. You're in the perfect place if they use Canola, Olive, or Corn oil. Ask for soft and trans - fat - free margarine. Order entrees with lots of vegetables. Choose chicken over duck. Don't be afraid to make requests if you want your food cooked or served a certain way. Just make sure to ask nicely.

2.) Size matters - Don't go for the jumbo meals. Ask for smaller portions of food. Or go for that good old psychological trick and use a smaller plate. If the restaurant is especially known for serving super - sized meals, offer to share some with your companion.

3.) Stay away from fried foods - words to look out for in the menu: sautéed, stuffed, pan - fried, au gratin, crispy, and escalloped - these are foods high in fat and calories. The best foods to order are those that are served grilled, steamed, poached, broiled, baked, or roasted. If you're not sure about how a certain food is prepared, ask the waiter. Also avoid too much cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream.

4.) Know your restaurants - be familiar with the restaurants in your area. Try to find out which ones serve the healthiest foods. Avoid places with eat - all- you - can buffets. The next time your friends want to have a little get - together, be the first one to make suggestions. This way you can have a little more say on where to eat, and you can plan ahead on what you want to order. On occasions when you can't avoid going to a steakhouse for example, order lean beef and don't order king - sized cuts.

5.) Cut down on sodium - try to avoid foods that are pickled, smoked, in broth, au jus, in soy, or teriyaki sauce, and foods in cocktail sauce - these tend to have high sodium content.

6.) Talk about it - if the people you are dining out with are close friends of yours anyway, you can tell them you're serious about cutting down on cholesterol. That way you can avoid episodes of having to decline every time someone insists that you try the specialty beefsteak, or the sautéed duck. It might also encourage them to be more conscious of their food choices, making it less stressful for you to eat out with them.

Applying these tips when eating out may take a while, but with determination and discipline, practicing these healthy tips will soon become second - nature to you.