If you like this check out our PINTEREST board for more great ideas and tips here!

Whether you’ve been invited to a restaurant or you simply fancy a night off from cooking, it doesn’t mean your commitment to healthy eating has to disappear. It’s true that when we dine out, we generally consume far more kilojoules than we do at home, which is why so many weight-loss experts encourage staying put and enjoying a nutritious meal you’ve prepared yourself. The problem with this advice is that it’s unrealistic for most of us. So, if you’re treating yourself (or being treated) to a meal out, here’s how you can be smart about it.

These healthy snacks will keep you thin at work.

Plan of attack:

1. Avoid buffets. Variety leads to excess. If you must eat at a buffet, scout it out first. Decide what you’ll have before you start loading up, then begin by filling half your plate with vegetables.

2. Be first to order. You’ll be less influenced by others’ choices, and you might even get the whole table eating healthier!

3. Sit next to an angel. Just being in close proximity to someone who’s equally concerned about healthy eating will encourage you to stay on track.

4. Modify everything. Request sauces, butter, gravy and sour cream on the side. Instead of chips, order a baked potato, or a small salad instead of coleslaw. Ask the waiter or the cook for suggestions on how to make a particular dish healthier. They hear good ideas from other customers all the time.

5. Go vegetarian. There are always exceptions (eggplant parmigiana anyone?) but vegetarian meals are generally a healthier choice. Try to order the meat-free option at least once a week.

6. Bring some home. Doggie bags are so commonly used now that many people even bring their own containers to cut down onn wasted packaging. If you really want to try a meal you know will be oversized, ask the waiter to pack half in the doggie bag before it leaves the kitchen.

Trying to lose weight? Here are some weightloss tips that will make a difference

What should I eat when I'm out?

Starters:
- Start smart. If you simply must have a starter, opt for a broth-based soup or a salad. These will save your waistline by filling you up for far fewer kilojoules than fried or creamy alternatives. Other good options include raw vegies with low-fat dip, a prawn cocktail, steamed mussels (hold the butter), rice-paper rolls or sushi..

- Limit the bread. Enjoy one serving, then move the rest well out of reach.

Drinks:
Beverages can be the biggest diet saboteurs, simply because it’s easy to underestimate the kilojoules they contain.
- Have a glass of iced water with lemon first. You’ll be less likely to want a kilojoule-laden drink.
- Don’t double up. Thin liquids like soft drinks, punch, juice and milk contain about 50 per cent less kilojoules than thick drinks such as smoothies or milkshakes.
- Stick with wine. When the occasion calls for an alcoholic tipple, order a glass of vino. A standard serving (100ml) of white wine has about 420 kilojoules, and you can reduce that by ordering a white wine spritzer.
- Sip herbal tea. Start and finish each meal with a pot of green tea. Three to five cups every day will increase your metabolism slightly, plus it’s nutrient-packed.

- Replace your first course with juice. A glass of high-fibre fruit or veg juice contains far less kilojoules than many starters. For example, two small spring rolls are about 840 kilojoules. Compare that with a 250ml glass of V8 Apple, Carrot and Ginger, which comes in at 488. Also, drinking juice helps fill you up, so you’ll eat less during the meal.

Salads:
- Make it your main. Every third restaurant visit, order a salad as your main meal. A low-kilojoule, high-volume salad will leave you feeling full and slim. Choose those that load up on lettuce, vegies and good protein such as chicken, salmon or eggs.
- Dress on the side. By asking for dressing to be served separately, you control how much is added. Go for olive oil- and vinegar-based, not creamy.

- Go easy on extras. Grated cheese, croutons and fried noodles can add hundreds of kilojoules and lots of saturated fat to an otherwise healthy salad, so it’s best to go without.

Mains
- Be size wise. Many restaurant mains are double the recommended serving size. If the option is available, order the smaller portion – you’ll still have plenty to eat and save a few dollars, too.

- Learn the code. Look for mains that are grilled, broiled, au jus, or from lean cuts such as loin or flank. Avoid items described as crispy, pan-fried or tempura. Ask for fish and vegetables to be grilled dry, or lightly in olive oil, and use lemon juice to zest them up.

Desserts
All food in moderation, especially dessert. Even just a little can be quite satisfying.
- Share alike. It’s customary nowadays to split a dessert with the table. Ask for forks for everyone.
- Order fruit. If it’s not on the menu, ask whether the cook might put together a bowl of pineapple chunks, berries, or a slice of melon with a dab of whipped cream.

- End the meal sweetly. Have a mint or a piece of sugar-free gum, or brush your teeth soon after eating to signal to your body that the meal is over.

Dining in? Cook these weightloss recipes at home.

'Like' us on Facebook
Follow us on twitter
Sign up to our weekly FREE online newsletter
Download our FREE food app