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It’s surprisingly easy to eat healthy on the run once you understand the principles behind food quality and quantity. These tips will help you make the healthiest decision while still enjoying a restaurant meal.

In a nutshell, protein servings should be about the size of your palm, skip the bread and fill up on vegetables, and have a bit of high-quality fat such as nuts, avocado, or olive oil.

Salads:
Salads are a great option, whether you’re at a restaurant or at a fast food place. Get the chicken or salmon grilled, it’s usually a good serving size. Enjoy the delicious extras that come with the salad, with the exception of croutons or noodles. Choose a vinaigrette dressing over Caesar or ranch, since creamy dressings usually have more processed ingredients than oil-based dressings, especially the low-fat varieties.

Burgers, Sandwiches and Wraps:
Not the best option on the menu, but it’s still easy to enjoy these options. Avoid the double-deckers and buffalo-style servings. Remove the top bun to cut back on unfavourable carbohydrates. Ask for extra veggies and a side salad instead of fries.

Entrees:
Most restaurant entrees have unnecessarily large portion sizes. If you order a steak or grilled chicken, save half for tomorrows lunch. Seafood and fish entrees are also good choices, always pick grilled over breaded, battered or fried. Skip the bread, rice, and potatoes and ask for double vegetables instead.

Dessert:
Only on special occasions, of course! Since you’ve avoided excess unfavourable carbohydrates with your dinner, you could share a dessert with a friend. It’s much easier to pass on the rolls and fries if you’re saving up for half a slice of apple pie or cheesecake.

Drinks:
Always order water first to sip on and curb the munchies. If you choose, a beer or glass of wine to savour throughout your meal is fine if you’re avoiding other unfavourable carbohydrates. Fruity drinks and sodas have too many chemicals and are not worth the sugar. Order a second glass of water at the end of the night to stay well-hydrated.

Having a plan for sticking with your healthy eating habits despite the circumstances will help you stay consistent with your new healthy lifestyle. It will also help planned slack meals (cheat is such a negative word) to do their part in helping you keep your diet-sanity.