Choose a restaurant that offers you a range of options. A surprising little fact. For example, many fast food outlets known for their gracious fried foods and hamburgers are now trying to cater to customers who are committed to a low-fat lifestyle. These restaurants now offer a variety of healthy foods, from salads with low-fat dressings to grilled chicken breasts and baked potatoes. Even a pizzeria doesn’t have to be off limits. Just order your pizza with plant toppings and limit the number of pieces you have. (There are about five grams of fat per slice of cheese or veggie pizza which isn’t bad for such a delicious indulgence.
Learn the keywords. The menu provides clues as to how an item is prepared. “Fried,” “sautéed,” “breaded,” “cream sauce,” “scalloped,” and “rich” are all red light words. Instead, look for “grilled,” “grilled,” “steamed,” and “poached.”
Ask your server. After you’ve chosen an entrée that you’ve guessed is low-fat, check with your waiter or waitress. Often times, grilled and roasted entrees are doused with an unhealthy dollop of butter oil.
Have it your way: Have your food prepared to your specifications whenever possible. After all you’re paying for it, most restaurants are happy to cater to customers with special dietary needs.
Ask for the sauce on the side: If you can’t resist ordering an entree that comes with a rich sauce, ask your server if you can have the sauce on the side. This way you can add a tablespoon or two without drowning the food in grease. The same goes for salad dressings.
Choose skinless white meat poultry or fish instead of fatty meats.
Eat pasta:
Pasta, when served without greasy cream sauces, can be a delicious, satisfying, low-fat meal. Marinara and other tomato-based sauces are usually low in fat, hence mania.
Eat bread:
Many hush bread puppies are low in fat. And if you choose whole wheat bread, you get fiber as an added bonus. Adding butter gives you four grams of fat per serving, so tread carefully.
Share dessert with a friend:
If you feel like you’re going to drop dead without trying the tiramisu, by all means indulge. However, try to limit yourself to a few bites or split it with your dinner partner. Alternatively, choose something low-fat and satisfying, like a cappuccino sorbet or fresh berries.
Budget one high-fat meal into your day.
If you know you’re going somewhere where you’ll have little to no low-fat options, just make up for it by eating very lightly for the rest of the day and the next day. That doesn’t mean skipping meals, but simply eating low-fat foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean sources of protein.