HEALTHY DINING

The other day a BootCamp member told us that she'd been doing very well with her nutrition and felt she was on the right track. However, she'd recently been invited to dine out with friends and she was afraid to accept the invitation because she didn't trust herself.

It's true that restaurants are full of temptations, but we don't want our BootCamp members to stop living! Bonding with others over a good meal is one of the joys in life that we do not want you to give up. However, we do want you to put into practice the following strategies so that you can enjoy your meal without feeling guilty afterwards.

1. Plan ahead by checking the menu and calories in advance.

2. Be picky! Ask your server for details about how your meal will be prepared. Ask them to omit any high calorie "extras", such as butter, cream, cheese, oil, croutons, etc.

3. Ask for sauces and salad dressings on the side so you can control how much you consume.

4. Split your meal with your dining companion, or ask the server to box half of it BEFORE bringing it to the table.

5. Drink water (ask for lemon slices to make it more refreshing) instead of alcohol, soda or juice.

6. Look for items on the menu that are baked, grilled, dry-sauteed, broiled, poached, or steamed.

7. Eat slowly while you enjoy your meal and your company!

What helps you stay on track when you eat out?