By Nicole Ferring Holovach, MS, RD, LDN
No matter how hard you try, when you eat out, you’re bound to eat more calories than you would if you dined in. At least that’s what researchers found in a recent study that tracked the calorie intake of 1,000 people, both at home and at restaurants. On average, people gobbled up 300 more calories per meal at restaurants than at home. Given that the majority of Americans eat out four to five times per week, it’s easy to see how the pounds can pack on quickly.
Dining or ordering out can feel like a minefield for the nutritionally well-intended, with calorie bombs at every turn. But you don’t have to blow your calorie budget every time you open a menu. We’ll show you how to eat right — or at least eat better — when you eat out. Here are 11 tips to help you safely navigate the menu.
Nicole Ferring Holovach is a Washington, DC-based registered dietitian, writer and health and wellness educator. She blogs about holistic health at www.WholeHealthRD.com.
