Eating out provides a chance to celebrate or socialize, an opportunity to experience new cuisine, to have some fun with whole family or kids or just to give them some extra pleasure, or just an excuse to avoid cooking. Whatever the reason, dining out is a national pastime in Canada. In fact, studies estimate that the typical Canadian eats away from home about five times a week, spending a third of their food budget in restaurants. Eating out is becoming a trend these days.

A Few Things to Decide

You have to decide a few things before going out for dining, like where do you want to eat? What style of restaurant you are going to choose? What type of cuisine you like? How will the meal be prepared? As people adopt a healthier lifestyle, the answers to these questions become more important. Canadians want foods that are healthy as well as tasty. If you eat out only on special occasions, enjoy your meal and eat what you want. However, if you eat out often, it is important to choose wisely. So, how do we make the best choices when eating away from home?

Stress on Low Fat Food

Cutting back on fat is the most important - whether you eat at home or out, order food that is broiled or poached rather than fried or breaded. Cut back on the amount of butter or margarine used on bread. Try low fat or no fat salad dressings whenever

You can. Sauces and gravies are high in fat; order them on the side and use as little as possible. Choose whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, beans and lentils more often. They are low in fat and high in fibre.

Utilize Your Consumer Power

Consider restaurants that have received the "Eat Smart Award". They meet high standards in nutrition, food safety and non-smoking seating. As consumers, we have a lot of control over the foods available to us in restaurants. Times are changing and the restaurant industry is beginning to recognize the importance of providing foods that are low in fat. This is due in part to restaurateurs responding to customer requests for healthy dining choices. So remember, if low fat choices are not on the menu, do not hesitate to ask the service. Only by our continued requests will we see more healthy food choices.