It’s important to understand what's on the menu when you eat out. The good news: You can eat heart-healthy if you know what to look for. Many restaurants offer delicious meals that are low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol, or will prepare your food to order. With a little bit of effort, you can ensure that the meals you eat away from home are part of a healthy diet.
- Remember that foods served fried, au gratin, crispy, scalloped, pan-fried, sautéed, buttered, creamed or stuffed are high in fat and calories. Instead, look for steamed, broiled, baked, grilled, poached or roasted foods.
- If you’re not sure based on the menu description how a meal is prepared or what ingredients it contains, ask your server.
- Choose entrees that feature seafood, chicken or lean meat, and avoid fatty meats. If you order meat, remove all visible fat and ask the chef to remove the skin from the chicken.
- Check the menu for items marked “healthy,” or ask the server what the healthiest choices on the menu are.
From fast food to upscale dining, find restaurants that offer “dietitian-approved” Healthy Dining menu items and view nutrition information (calories, fat, sodium, etc.) for the recommended dishes. New restaurants are added frequently!
Want to eat healthy when dining out? We make it easy. Simply look for our Heart-Check mark on the menu in select restaurants.