A New Start: ** Eating Out **

Eating out can be one of the most stressful things when you are trying to get healthy and eat healthy. BUT living a healthy life and eating healthy yummy food doesn't mean you can't eat out at your favorite restaurant. I put some examples of a menu at Olive Garden that is about the most popular menu for people when they go out to Olive Garden. I also included calories of the breads and salads from a few restaurants. The best thing to do when going out is to check the menu first and check out what you want, most websites have a nutritional tab along with the menu. Then you don't even have to look at a menu when you get to the restaurant and be tempted with everything. Try to stick with water with lemon to drink, the lemonades will get you every time with all the calories and sugar they have in it. If you don't think you can limit the amount of bread or chips and salsa you can eat you can also ask the person who seats you to not bring you any. One last thing about eating out, just because its a salad doesn't mean its good for you. One of the worst things you can eat is a Caesar Salad. If you don't like all the stuff that comes with a House Salad then you can order a Caesar Salad with a different kind of dressing. Finding all these calories was a huge eye opener for me and really helped me realize what I have to do personally. I had the chance to go out to eat at Olive Garden actually this week and I picked my meal before time and didn't even have to look at the menu. It was great not having to focus on what I couldn't have and to be able to order with no worries and enjoy my entire meal!

Olive Garden Meal :

Beverage - Raspberry Lemonade 110 Calories a Glass (Usually you'll have at least 2)
Salad - 350 Calories per serving

Bread stick - 150 Calories PER stick (um you know you can't have less then 3)

Alfredo Dipping Sauce - 380 Calories

Fettuccine Alfredo - 1220 Calories

Dessert - Warm Apple Crostata - 730 Calories

Grand Total for 1 meal - 3460 Calories

Garden Salad w/Dressing - 350 per serving

Garden Salad w/o Dressing - 120 per serving