Drug Medical Information

RECIPES FOR HEALTHY PLEASURES: "RESTAURANT ANXIETY"

Whatever happened to the joy of DINING out? It went the way of the dinosaur - doomed to obsolescence by the "fear of food."
"Restaurant anxiety" is a common syndrome among many who fear restaurant eating means relinquishing control over their diet to some crazed chef who lacks knowledge of, or interest in, good nutrition.
Does restaurant food have to be life-threatening? Of course not. Here are some guidelines to help you avoid the soggy, greasy, unwholesome and worse.
• CALL AHEAD.
No reason to wait until you're handed the menu to discover whether the restaurant's meal choices meet your requirements, when a phone call allows you to check things out ahead of time.
• ENLIST THE AID OF YOUR FOOD SERVER.
Tell your waiter or waitress about your nutritional concerns. If you want to be certain the dishes you order are low fat, without salt, have no added MSG, are not fried, say so. Ask for your server's recommendation for a healthful offering. Usually, your server will be eager to help you stay on your diet - your tip pays her salary.
• BE MENU-WISE.
Learn to interpret menu items correctly. Foods 'sauteed' have added butter; 'tempura' means fried in batter; 'au gratin' could mean anything - but for sure suggests a cheese sauce added that might contain unwanted ingredients. Beware such 'buzz words' as 'buttery', 'crispy', 'creamed', 'in its own gravy', 'hollandaise', 'pan-fried', 'escalloped', 'marinated' and 'braised' descriptions of dishes that could contain lots of fat. Watch out for pickled or smoked foods.
ORDER 'CLEAN' FOODS.
Request salad dressings 'on the side', baked potatoes without toppings - (or with a scoop of cottage cheese or a small dish of yogurt) - bread or toast served 'dry', chicken, fish and meats without added gravies or sauces.
WATCH OUT FOR THE SALAD BAR.
Most salad bars load up with items best shunned: mayonnaise-laden macaroni and potato salads, bacon bits, croutons, sugar-laced gelatin-fruit combos, oil-heavy dressings. Choose wisely and the salad bar can be the healthy main event; be careless and you'll have been taken in by a clever merchandising scheme. CONSIDER SHARING.
Not only in Chinese restaurants is it a good strategy to split meals. Ordering two appetizers plus one entree that two people can share is a good way to pare down portions. When dining alone, ask for 'children's size' or 'half-size' servings.
SEEK OUT NO-FAULT FAST FOOD.
Yes, there is such a thing. Healthy fast food is not an oxymoron. There are worse meals than lean roast beef sandwiches (hold the French fries), and lightly dressed (or better still, undressed) salads, a baked potato sans rich toppings, and a citrus juice drink. If you're stuck -and starving' - at a drive-in that serves nothing but deep-fried chicken and fish, remove all the skin and outer crispy layer before eating.
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