When trying to lose weight, eating out may present many challenges, especially when eating out often. Making healthy, low-fat choices in many restaurants is difficult without the knowledge of how the food is prepared.

The following tips may provide guidelines on how to choose healthy, low-fat foods:
* Choose a restaurant that provides options, such as a salad-bar, low-fat foods, broiled and vegetarian foods.
* Choose low-fat side dishes such as a green salad without dressing (or order the dressing on the side) , plain baked potato (use plain yogurt as a topping) , or a steam vegetable instead of french fries or coleslaw.
* Choose dishes without cream sauces, gravies, butter, or oil. Ask for dishes to be made without these high fat additions.
* Try low-fat, even meatless, ethnic meals that are steamed or stir-fried.
* Avoid desserts or choose fresh fruit, sorbet, sherbet or angel-food cake.
* Ask for low-fat meals. Restaurants listen to their customers.

Eating out should be a pleasure. By making healthy choices, dining out can be incorporated into any weight loss program. For further information, contact a registered dietitian or your healthcare provider.

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