Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite to eat after working late or attending a fancy birthday party or anniversary dinner, dining out at a restaurant poses its own set of obstacles to losing weight. Restaurants normally provide their customers with delicious dishes that contain more food and many more calories than they would need to consume in one sitting. Depending on the restaurant and the dish, you may be served with more calories than you should consume in one day! These types of meals can reverse any progress you’ve made losing weight, unless you plan ahead.

The Menu – If you are planning a dinner or are invited to a restaurant, check the restaurant’s website to get a sense of the menu, and what healthy options are available. This gives you the opportunity to review the menu at your own pace, so you can see what types of foods you should eat. If you’re the type of individual that is indecisive when ordering from a new menu, especially when you are trying to select a healthy meal, previewing the menu will prepare you to make the proper dietary and nutritional meal choice.

Portion Size – On the website, also note the pictures of the food in order to gauge the portion size. An important factor determining why someone is overweight is overeating. Many people are so determined, or were raised, to eat everything on their plate, that they don’t realize they are often consuming double or triple the amount of calories for one meal. Overeating will expand the stomach and one’s appetite especially over a long period of time, thus requiring increasingly more food to be eaten in order to feel full. Read the rest of this entry »