eating out
Don't Go to a Party Hungry
Have a healthy snack at home, like an apple and some nuts, before heading out to a party. This way you’re less likely to overindulge on bad-for-your-heart food choices. Another smart party strategy is to limit alcoholic beverages, which can impair judgment and lead you to make a dinner of unhealthy potato chips and mini egg rolls.
Be Careful Not to Overeat With Friends
Women tend to eat more when they are with other people and may not even realize it, found a study at Syracuse University. While it’s tempting to order an appetizer or dessert to share, compromise by ordering only one or the other, forgoing the bread basket or splitting an entrée.
Decide What You Want to Eat Before Hitting the Buffet
An all-you-can eat buffet offers many temptations, but instead of indulging in them all, peruse the buffet first to see which foods are the healthiest and most appetizing. Fill up your plate with healthy green salads and take small tastes of any high fat foods you truly love. Another smart option is to use a smaller plate.
Avoid Portion Size Pitfalls
Portion sizes have gotten larger in the last few years. A single bagel can actually contain two or even three servings. An individual bag of chips can easily feed more than one person. To control portions, read food packages to determine the number of servings before you begin eating. Serve yourself only one portion and put away the rest.
Eating Heart-Smart in a Restaurant Can Be Easy
Restaurants are often a trap for high-calorie, high-fat meals – but they don’t have to be. To keep your decision-making on track, limit yourself to one alcoholic drink and follow these five simple rules:
Eating Out Tips
Choosing heart healthy foods doesn’t mean that you can’t eat at restaurants or at social events. By keeping a few guidelines in mind, you can sit back and enjoy eating out!
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