10 Healthy, Figure-Friendly Tips for Dining Out

Los Angeles Dining Tips salad vegetables fruit Beverly Hills

Scan the menu for entrees that are broiled, baked, grilled, steamed, or poached. But watch out for fattening red flags like: fried, sautéed or breaded.
Don't start with wine or alcohol; you may not be able to control your eating during the meal.
Thirsty? Sip on water, sparkling water or unsweetened tea, NOT soda.
Don't be lured by the bread-and-oil appetizers - two pieces of bread dipped in two tablespoons of oil almost 400 calories to your meal!
Order clear, broth-based soups that will fill you up, not weigh you down.
Order your vegetables steamed instead of sautéed or creamed
Stretch your wallet but not your waistline: When ordering, ask your server to split your order and put half in a container to take home and enjoy as a second meal!
Make sure that salad isn't actually an unhealthy monster in disguise. Order low-fat dressing on the side, or liven it up with vinegar or a squeeze of lemon. Or make your own dressing by mixing 1 teaspoon of olive oil with 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and mustard.
At a salad bar, stay away from high-fat items like cheese, cream dressing, croutons, olives, bacon bits, and avocado (which is super healthy, but high in calories). And skip the gloppy, mayonnaise-based potato or egg salads.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with fresh seasonal fruit, which is sweet, but not as laden with sugar as cake, pie or ice cream desserts.