by Michael Chamberlain

Created on: September 29, 2008   Last Updated: October 06, 2008

Eating great Italian food and dieting, you wouldn't normally put these two concepts together in your head. Eating Italian food while dieting can be accomplished by making good choices and staying away from the fat. Many restaurants even offer healthier Italian dishes.

Avoid the oil and fryer. The only place that stuff will get you is the fat farm. While deep-fried delicacies are tasty, they add on the pounds pretty quick. Stay clear away from the cream, butter, and cheese. An average restaurant portion of Fettuccini Alfredo has a whopping ninety-seven grams of fat. That gives you the same amount of fat that you would get from eating five McDonald's Quarter Pounders. Now that would cause you to lose your girlish figure.

While garlic bread is tasty, the calories and fat from the butter drenching the bread can really add up. Choose the plain Italian bread instead. Another wise choice to make is to choose fresh vegetables whenever possible. They will give you the most nutrients and are low in fat and calories. They are a great alternative to fried foods and even vegetables drenched in butter. The best way to cut calories is to eliminate the cheese. By asking for no cheese topping you can decrease your fat intake by a quarter. Eliminating the cheese altogether can cut the saturated fat by two-thirds.

Olive oil is the basis for many Italian dishes. Although it is healthier than other types of oil it is still oil, and isn't the best option for dieters. Find fresh foods without the oil at all. Cutting oil from your diet will help a great deal, when it comes to trying to stay healthy and lose weight.

Pizza is the soul of Italian food. It is the quick fix when dinner is put on the backburner of our agenda. At times we thrive off of the convenience it provides, but regret eating it afterwards because it ruins your diet. Pizza can still be enjoyed even when dieting. I wouldn't suggest getting the regular sort. The kind you have to wipe off the grease before eating. There is now a new option that I have found to be very delectable. Papa Murphey's, De-Lite pizzas are a great fix for that hunger that only pizza can fulfill. With its cracker-thin crust and minimal toppings, it is sure to fill your pizza needs. They have many varieties including the traditional toppings, but they also have unique blends such as the Chicken Bacon Artichoke De-Lite pizza.

Eating out is the toughest challenge when it comes to dieting. Many Italian restaurants are adding or now featuring healthy choices on their menus. The Olive Garden has many low-fat options including the Venetian Apricot Chicken, Linguini alla Marinara, and Minestrone soup. Buca Di Beppo, Carraba's, Fazoli's, and many other restaurants also have healthy menus. If it comes down to it, and you don't see any other way out just order a salad with light dressing and you'll be just fine.

Eating Healthy Italian can be easy. All you have to do is make the right choices. Stay away from the fatty items and choose as many vegetables not tainted with butter as you possibly can. Eating is fun. Enjoy every minute of it while still sticking to your diet.

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