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a salad or making the majority of the meal vegetables , it ’ s possible to eat fewer calories overall .
• Practice mindful eating . Mindful eating involves paying full attention to the process of eating . Focus on eating rather than conversation , and try to avoid distractions like watching television while munching , which could compel you to eat too much .
• Make healthy choices . Look for menu items that are smart choices , like lean cuts of meat ,
grilled or baked foods , brothbased soups , and vinegar-based dressings . Anything that says “ fried ” or “ creamy ” likely should be avoided .
• Skip the buffet . When choosing between a sit-down meal and a buffet line , the sit-down entrée may be the smarter choice . The amount of food on the plate will be finite rather than chafing dish after chafing dish of tempting options .
• Avoid alcohol . Medline Plus indicates the average drink can have anywhere from 100 to 165 calories per serving . Certain mixed drinks , like a chocolate martini or piña colada , can exceed 500 calories . By skipping the cocktail or wine , it may be possible to trim several hundred calories off a meal .
Dining out presents unique obstacles to healthy eating plans . But planning ahead makes it possible to dine out without compromising dieting plans .
HUNTSVILLE LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | 7