Art Chowder January | February, Issue 25 | Page 53

I
n those instances, I always ask for a
different side option and most restau-
rants are accommodating!
You can almost always get some sort of
vegetable or salad instead of the chips,
French fries, or mashed potatoes. Don’t
forget … you have control when it
comes to whether your meat is grilled,
fried, breaded, etc. Opt for grilled when
that is available. You can also ask for
extra greens instead of a grain base if
you’re feeling like really lightening it
up. Go into the situation with a game
plan, knowing you always have options
to “healthify” your meal!
8. Walk more, sit less.
This one may seem super simple, but I
find it makes a big difference! As this
directly ties in to eating out, try parking
far away from the restaurant so that you
get a little walk in before and after your
meal. If there’s a wait at the restaurant,
walk around rather than sitting on the
waiting bench. If you have a lunch break
at work, take a walk! These are just good
healthy habits to incorporate into your
daily life. Train yourself to walk more,
stand more, and sit less, and you’ll be
well on your way to a healthier you.
9. Cut out the extra – 
Unnecessary Calories.
When dining out, most of us will end up
eating more calories than we anticipate.
These sneaky calories come from the
bread basket, the basket of chips, the
bottomless fries, the extra sauce, the
drink, the loaded dressing … the list
goes on. Most of these “extras” aren’t
going to make or break our eating out experience, but it’s just there so we eat it. Unless it’s a restaurant that’s known for its fresh,
homemade bread, I’m passing on the bread basket. The bottomless chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants is one of my downfalls
for sure. I try to drink lots of water and wait until my meal gets there at least before I go to town on the chips. When ordering a
salad, always ask for your dressing on the side (they typically put double the dressing than I would ever put on my own). Also,
avoid the tasteless liquid calories. One glass of lemonade has over 50 grams of sugar! By cutting out these unnecessary extras,
you can focus on the good stuff and still leave feeling satisfied.
January | February 2020
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