It is possible to occasionally eat out at a restaurant, or even a fast-food place and keep your healthy diet, and save calories and money too.  Welcome to the 31st day of the Give-Back Diet.

I do want to say first thing that restaurant food is often made to taste great so it keeps customers coming back. The methods used are heavy use of butter and fats, and a lot of sweeteners.  Also, portions at restaurants are often huge: far more than what you may want to eat to lose weight.

What do you do if you want to eat out?  Here are some of my tips:

RESTAURANT ACTION PLAN:

• The bread basket is very tempting; tell the waiter to take it away.

• Chose healthier foods: order vegetables, salad, broiled fish and fowl.

• Avoid heavy meats, and fat-laden, high-calorie sauces.

• Skip the drinks, and just have water, seltzer or unsweetened tea. Squeeze lemon in it.

• Pick sides that are lower fat, such as roast vegetables, baked or boiled potatoes.

• Don’t eat anything that is fried.

• Skip the appetizers entirely, or have salad to start.

• Skip the dessert or make it fresh fruit.

• If you really want wine or a cocktail, have it at the end of the meal, and only one.

• Try to move your body before and during the meal: go for a short vigorous walk, stretch, touch your face and make contact. Make it a dinner/dance special occasion.

Remember, the main attraction with eating out is to have someone cook, serve and clean up.  Yes, it’s about having great food, hopefully better than what you could cook for yourself, but why sacrifice your health for flavor?  Don’t forget: think quality not quantity, and less is more.

Here’s another idea, cutting all the restaurant food in half and asking the waiter to wrap it for you to take home.  That way, the higher cost of eating out can be spread out to provide another meal for you: it’s like a 2-for-1 special!  Here’s a video I did explaining it.

Let’s be honest: eating out is a treat, and one that can be fraught with overeating, addictive dangers.  Go forward cautiously, with a game-plan in mind.  That way, you’ll not be subject to impulse or splurge.  Keep in mind how you will feel afterwards.

HERE’S A LIST OF EVERY DAY OF THE “GIVE-BACK DIET.”  START TODAY!