Restaurant Menus Demystified: The Best & Worst Items to Order
HG FYI: These tips are fantastic for anyone looking to moderate their calorie intake as part of a weight-loss or weight-management plan. You don’t need to incorporate every single one of them. We just want to arm you with the info so you can make the best choices for YOU.
Top 3 Restaurant-Ordering Tips
2. Don't be afraid to ask questions and special order. Just do it politely, of course. If the menu description isn't clear, ask how a dish is prepared. You can request "easy on the oil" or no butter. Get sauces on the side, or ask for lighter alternatives (like salsa or lemon wedges) to flavor up your food. And ask for extra veggies in place of a starchy side!
3. Understand menu terminology. This one is critical! Certain terms signal a smart choice, while others can be code for less-healthy options. To make things easy for you, we've come up with a guide to the good, the bad, and the questionable. Read on!
Menu Terms to Embrace
Broth: Water infused with meat, seafood, and/or veggies. Look for broth-based soups and shellfish steamed in broth. Mmmm...
Grilled: Cooked over a grate with dry heat, usually without much oil. (When in doubt, ask.) Bonus: Grill marks ROCK.
Seared: Cooked quickly over high heat to achieve a slightly charred surface. Very little oil needed.
Steamed: Cooked using moist heat, either using a steamer or just by trapping the steam in a covered pan. Rarely involves oil. Ideal veggie prep!
Roasted/Fire-Roasted: Cooked in a dry-heat environment, generally a light amount of oil.
Menu Terms to Avoid
Bisque: Soup with a heavy cream base. Why bother, when there are so many delicious light soups?
Breaded/Battered: Coated with flour and generally fried.
Candied: Cooked with sugar and (sometimes) butter. Common treatment for nuts.
Caramelized: Cooked until deeply browned. Typically involves a fair amount of butter.
Creamy: This sauce description usually means high-calorie ingredients are involved: mayo, sour cream, milk, butter, etc.
Crispy/Crunchy: In other words? Fried. A combo of breading and oil is what usually achieves that crisp texture.
Glazed: Generally indicates being lacquered in a sugary and/or oily sauce.
Smothered: Typically means "drowned in cheese, gravy, or cream sauce." See also: country style, disco, and wet.
Wild Cards on the Menu
Drizzled: Lightly sauced or topped. While it's better than "smothered," it can still be caloric if the sauce is creamy and the chef has a heavy hand. When in doubt, ask for it on the side.Fresh: Contrary to popular belief, this is not synonymous with low calorie. Fresh could refer to something uncooked, freshly made, or simply made in-house. Fresh tilapia and broccoli = good. Fresh pasta in cream sauce = at your discretion!
Sautéed: Sometimes cooked in generous amount of butter or oil; sometimes not. (Reminder: You can request that a small amount of butter or oil be used.)
Hungry for More?
Chew on this:
It’s National Bittersweet Chocolate Day, January 10th! But there’s nothing bitter about JOJO’s sweet low-sugar Dark Chocolate Bites, made with plant protein…
On a healthy-eating path with your pals? Share today’s tips & tricks for dining out!
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