When eating out it is difficult to keep to healthy options. However, there is no reason you can’t continue to follow your healthy eating plan.

Here are some top tips on how to stay on track and still enjoy meals out.

• Don’t arrive hungry
  Have a healthy snack before you arrive, making it less likely you’ll need to dive straight into the bread.
• Avoid starters
  You only need to eat one meal at a time – you’re snacks should keep you going.
• Special requests
  Most (quality) restaurants will be happy to remove or add small ingredients on request.
• Protein-based foods
  Ordering a protein-based meal will be healthier and make you feel fuller.
• Substitute
  All restaurants have vegetables and they should happily replace foods like rice, bread, or potatoes for steamed or grilled vegetables.
• Green vegetables
  Order these in unlimited quantities to fill you up.
• Spices
  All spices are fine, so go ahead and give your meal some flavour.
• No sauces
  If you can’t refuse, request the sauce in a side dish and just have a little.
• Dressings
  Olive oil and flaxseed oil dressings are good.
• Dessert
  Occasionally a small dessert is fine, but if you eat out regularly try to avoid or share a smaller portion.