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With the endless variety of restaurants and food choices we're faced with today, it makes sense to have a strategy for dining out. This holds true whether you're on a perpetual diet or just trying to maintain the weight you're at.

Here are some tips to help you formulate a sensible plan for eating out:

Get To Know Your Local Restaurants And Their Menus

Check their menu out online prior to your first visit. This will give you some time to decide what the best food choices would be for eating healthy. We don't always make the best choices when are stomachs are growling and we're pressed for time.

Get acquainted with some of the healthier choices on the menu. Even if it's something you're not going to be eating this time, see what other options are available for your next visit. I know my favorite local eatery doesn't offer cottage cheese on their menu, but they do have fruit as a healthy alternative.

Study the salad choices and the sides they offer. See if they feature a soup & salad combo or sandwich & soup/salad. Tomato juice makes a great addition to any light meal to help fill you up and give you a vegetable choice.

Check Out The Soups

Clear soups are a healthier choice and can be very filling, especially when accompanied by a salad. Recent studies suggest though that creamy soups may actually be better for you if you're trying to lose weight. The soup's fat content helps to fill you up and keeps you feeling satisfied longer.

Eat Half An Entree

If you and your meal companion each orders soup or salad, you can split the entree. Another solution to eating light and healthy is to take half your entree home and save it for lunch the next day.

Don't Be Afraid To Make Special Requests

I always order lemon for my ice water to get a healthy dose of Vitamin C. My mom's favorite dinner item is steak with mushrooms, but one place we frequent serves their mushrooms swimming in butter. The last time we were there, my mom asked if she could get them without being drowned in butter and her request was granted. Don't be afraid to ask if you'd don't see an item listed on the menu or would like an item cooked a different way. Most establishments will be happy to grant your requests.

Think About The Time Of Day (Or Night) You're Eating That Big Meal

It was rumored that Jackie O was able to maintain her elegant figure by making certain she always ate her evening meal by 3 pm. This included dining out. She also was known to order an appetizer in lieu of an entree to help cut down on calories.

With just a little planning on your part, dining out can be an enjoyable experience you don't have to feel guilty about.

Learn more about this author, Barbara Mitchell.
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