Eating healthy when eating out in restaurants

Eating out can be a nice change in your usual eating routines and is often fun for you and the party you're eating with. If you are having a special event then why not go somewhere nice as it always beats eating fish and chips in front of the TV. Getting dressed up and going out makes you feel good.

There are connotations involved with eating out in that you will be spending a lot of money on large meals which won't be good for you, but that is not always the case. Follow my top tips for staying healthy whilst eating out and about.

1. Sugar. Reduce your intake.

Empty calories are the calories that have absolutely no nutritional benefits and these are the types of sugars that are found in sweets, chocolate and your favourite fizzy drinks. When in a restaurant try and cut these all out where possible and order something that looks and sounds more natural. Taking too many calories into your body will only lead to weight gain, so cut out all those calories that you don't need. If you do need to drink fizzy drinks, try and stick to zero sugar alternatives as some of the classic soft drinks can contain anything up to 10 teaspoons of sugar, yes you read that right, 10 teaspoons! Even better for you is drinking water, as it is good for all bodily functions.

2. Aim for a rounded meal, every time.

By rounded I mean one that has carbs, proteins and fats. Eating protein in every meal will allow your body to burn more calories as protein needs more energy from your body in order to digest. We all know that energy is stored as calories. Proteins come from lots of foods but the most protein per gram comes from lean meats like chicken, turkey and sirloin steaks. Fish, beans and eggs all have good amounts of protein in too, as do nuts but they also contain large amounts of fats and must be eaten in moderation. Protein digestion not only burns calories but it also helps in muscle growth and is the key to many body builders’ successes.

3. Raw and unaltered food is key.

Food that still looks like how it was when it was growing/living is the best types of foods you can eat. For example an apple will still look like an apple after it has been picked, but an apple pie will look nothing like the natural apple. Check that the restaurant or hotel menu has some fresh fruit on the lists of desserts and you'll be good to go, be warned though that fruit is high in natural sugars and while still good for you it is not as beneficial as say green leaf vegetables. If you need to eat some foods that have been processed as I'm sure you will, try and stick to the healthy varieties when you're eating out. Take bread for example, it can come in wholegrain formats which is much, much better for you than the white bread alternatives.

If you follow the above tips then your eating at Worcester restaurants or Birmingham hotels eating will be a fun and healthy experience for you.