Color the Menu Red When Dining Out

Just because you are dieting, you cannot live in a cocoon or hibernate for the winter until you lose those pounds. Situations will arise that will force you to abandon your controlled home diet regimen and require you to dine outside the home. Dining out at your favorite fast food restaurant just became easier for those who may be on a diet or trying to eat healthier foods. I say easier in the sense that now you know which of your favorite meals are definite no-no's.

Dr Stephen G. Aldana and a group of nutritionists have color coded almost every menu item in every major fast food chain across North America. For complete lists of all the restaurant's menus, his book "The Stop & Go Fast Food Nutrition Guide" can be downloaded free of charge on the Internet.

Menu items are color coded in the following manner :

1. red - a definite no-no and should be avoided

2. yellow - foods that should be eaten with caution

3. green - healthy choices and can be eaten to your heart's content.

Trans-fats are the main culprit here. A menu item rates a red code if it contains more than 1 gram of trans-fats (this is an automatic red); contains processed meat; contains high levels of saturated fats, cholesterol, calories, or sodium; or more than the recommended serving of red meats.

Does this make you feel better or depress you even more? Don't toss in the towel just yet. In the final analysis of all the gathered data it was found that 53 per cent of the menu items were color coded either green or yellow. This means that over half of what is being served is OK for you to eat and it isn't all just salads either - a junior burger at McDonald's is actually coded green.

Eat as you would at home. Keep the portions small and avoid the appetizers ( high in trans-fats) and the desserts ( high in calories). Desserts are for special occasions and should be used as reward. If talked into either, order ones that the whole table can share. As a beverage choose either a diet soda, ice water, bottled water or a high energy or fruit drink.

You do not have to wreck your diet with dining out. Keep it under control and you will find that most of the foods you order, are going to be good for you and taste good too. In other words now you have the best of both worlds.

Can't seem to lose weight? Hate exercising and fad diets? For weight loss and exercise tips and strategies and more articles visit our Teen Weight Loss website. There is advice and strategies for everyone.

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