You may have heard advice to dine out less often if you want to weigh less. That’s like telling people to leave their cars in the garage if they want to avoid getting into an automobile accident.
To improve road safety, we need driver’s education. Diners’ education can help avoid menu mishaps.
Menus are maps: Read the menu and listen carefully when servers list the specials. Check out the menu online to help you plan a safe route. If you want to splurge on the fried calamari, choose a grilled entrée. If you love sweets, ask to see the dessert menu first so you know where you’re headed.
Signal your moves: Be specific about what you want or don’t want.
Keep your eyes open: Look around and see what others are eating, so you get a visual on portion sizes.
Note road hazards: The fresh baked bread can be hard to resist. Ditto the bowl of olive oil. Did you know that olive oil and butter have the same number of calories? And dipping bread in olive oil can soak up more fat than a thin spread of butter.
