5 Tips for Finding Healthy Restaurants to Eat At

Going out to eat has a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to weight management. Many restaurant meals feature enormous portions laden with calories and fat.

However, it is possible to stick to your diet and enjoy an evening on the town. Here are five tips for finding healthy restaurants to eat at.

1. Read the Menu

The days when you didn’t know what was on the menu until after you sat down at your table are long gone. Today, most establishments have a website where you can see what they have to offer before booking your reservation. Thanks to the pandemic and takeout orders, even businesses that formerly went without an online presence now have one.

What should you look for? The best menus have various healthy options, including nourishing antioxidant-rich salads, bowls filled with lean proteins like chicken and seafood, and satisfying carbohydrates.

Take note of popular cooking terms that can give you a clue how healthfully your meal was prepared. You want to stay away from anything deep-fried. Look for the following words on the menu:

• Bake: To cook by dry heat in the oven until moisture slowly evaporates.
• Braise: To slowly cook food using heat from the oven or stovetop and a little bit of liquid, usually water or broth, to make meat tender.
• Brown: A quick saute, broil or grill to enhance flavor, texture or eye appeal.
• Grill: To cook over an open flame or to use the dry heat produced by one.
• Roast: To cook uncovered in the oven.
• Steam: To cook over boiling water in a pan, which helps keep the food’s nutritional value intact.
• Stir-fry: The rapid cooking of small pieces of meat and vegetables over high heat. This method can be healthy or not, depending on the type of oil the restaurant uses.

2. Seek Specialty Eats

Do you adhere to a particular dietary lifestyle, such as veganism or keto? If you do, why not seek restaurants that cater to people who follow your meal plan? More can be found every day as people take better charge of their health through their chosen foods.

For example, you can find vegan restaurants that understand your need for B-vitamins. They might use ingredients like nutritional yeast to ensure a sufficient intake of B12, a common deficiency among people who follow this lifestyle.

Likewise, those on low-carb diets like paleo or keto can find plenty of restaurants now catering to this craze. Even many popular chains offer healthy menu options that won’t put you over your net carb intake.

3. Go Farm-to-Table

You don’t get much fresher than food raised and grown right on the premises. That’s the kind of nutritional goodness you can expect from a farm-to-table restaurant. These eateries have their chefs prepare foods grown on-site, allowing patrons to learn the methods used in fertilizing crops and caring for livestock.

You’ll get the best bang for your nutritional buck when you order vegetable-based dishes at such establishments. Produce starts losing its vitamins and minerals just three short days after harvest, but the fare you get here might have come out of the ground yesterday.

4. Try Authentic Ethnic Cuisine

You might shy away from Americanized ethnic cuisine for a good reason. Much of it comes deep-fried or laden in oils to add flavour — and unnecessary calories and fat.

However, you can find unbelievably healthy meals when you search for authentic ethnic restaurants. For example, many Indian curries contain a perfect balance of lean protein, vegetables and carbohydrates. They also use turmeric, an anti-inflammatory herb that can help ease chronic pain.

5. Phone Ahead

You can always call ahead to inquire about what healthy dishes a restaurant has to offer. Such an approach can do double-duty if you must make reservations. You can find out about any potential food allergens before you book your table.

For example, many restaurants use canola oil. While this substance is considered healthy for many, those with an allergy can suffer severe gastrointestinal effects and inflammation from small amounts. It’s better to spend a few minutes inquiring about preparation than spend a few days feeling achy and uncomfortable.

Find Healthy Restaurants to Eat at With Ease

You don’t have to wave goodbye to your diet when you go out to eat. Find healthy restaurants that meet your dietary guidelines and enjoy yourself to the fullest.

*This is a collaborative post