Eating at home is the best way to guarantee healthy choices and not blow your calorie budget. But most people dine at restaurants regularly, whether it is for work meetings, networking events, or social outings. Knowing how to make smart choices when dining out can help you shave calories off your meal.

10 Easy Ways to Cut Calories When Eating Out

1. Read the entire menu, even if your eyes gravitate to one mouth-watering description right away. Can you piece together an equally-enticing meal with appetizers, soups, and salads? Variety can often offer a psychological benefit rather than feeling like you’re having to avoid something.

2. Tempted by a delectable sounding sauce? Ask for it on the side. Being in control of how much you consume is easier when you’re an active participant in putting it on your plate.

3. Swap mayo for mustard or another low-cal condiment. Ask your server what other condiments are available. You just may discover your new favorite sandwich ingredient.

4. Thin crust pizza is a better option than deep-dish. Always. Go ahead and load that pizza with veggies while you’re at it.

5. If dining out for breakfast, choose a protein-based meal (like eggs) rather than a carbohydrate-based option (like pancakes or waffles). Bonus points for veggies at breakfast!

6. Order a salad or broth-based soup as a starter to help prevent overeating a more caloric main dish. And you’ll definitely be too full for dessert!

7. If you have to eat fast food, choose from the kiddie menu. (And definitely avoid anything with the following descriptors: jumbo, mega, super, biggie, double, or triple. Those are just bad news.)

8. Eat slowly, and focus on conversation. When you eat at a slower pace, your brain has the opportunity to receive the “FULL” signal from your stomach more easily.

9. Hands off the breadbasket! The refined white flour in the bread can trigger insulin production, which actually makes you hungrier. That means you’re not only getting the empty calories from the bread, but you’re more likely to overeat during your meal, too. Double whammy!

10. Make water your drink of choice. It saves calories. It saves money. It helps you digest your meal. It’s simply the best choice all-around.

Here’s a BONUS Calorie Saver:

For those of you who enjoy your morning latte, know that it’s packing a caloric punch. A medium 18-ounce whole-milk latte has 256 calories. If you can make the switch to a 12oz nonfat latte, you can halve those calories. Quick math: 125 calories x 5 days = 625 calories per week saved. That’s a pound’s worth of calories every six weeks!

Those are my easy ways to cut calories when eating out. What are yours?

Leave me your easy ways to cut calories when eating out in the comments!

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