Dining out can ruin your diet.
Most restaurant menu items are loaded with calories, fat and sodium -- especially sodium. That's why after a typical restaurant meal we feel bloated, gross and, well, fat.
The trainer in me wants to say: Avoid dining out at all costs. But the realist in me knows better. With our lifestyles, that's going to happen. Lunch dates with friends ... dinner dates with the significant other ... work lunches ... birthdays ... family outings ... maybe you just want to go out to eat. The way we live calls for all sorts of occasions where we're just going to be at a restaurant.
Since this is how it is, let's at least make smart choices.
1. Pass on the appetizer. The entree will probably have too many calories as it is, no need to add more. Besides, unless you're in L.A. and can order beets as an appetizer (hey, Allison!), starters are probably going to be fried, loaded with cheese and accompanied by a dipping sauce anyway. Uh, pass.
