Although eating out can be a treat, it’s not always easy to make healthy choices.

Some tips that might help:

• Selections matter
  It’s not only fast food restaurants that serve unhealthy foods. High-end restaurants also serve food that can be as unhealthy as a double cheeseburger and fries. Be careful with your selections no matter where you dine.
• Appetizers
  These tend to be high in fat. Go for the vegetable-based soups or salads with dressing on the side.
• Enjoy and taste
  Eat slowly and enjoy each bite to avoid over-eating.
• Doggie bag
  Don’t be afraid to leave food on your plate and ask for a doggie bag.
• Healthy menu
  Check out the “healthy” options on the menu.
• Portion sizes
  These tend to be over-sized so consider ordering a side dish portion or splitting an entrée with others.
• Side salads
  Order a side salad and ask for the dressing on the side to control how much goes on the healthy greens. Look for fat-free, low-fat or low-calorie versions.
• Sauce-on-the-side
  This request also applies to entrées like pastas with cream sauces.
• Broiled, not fried
  Ask if an item can be broiled instead of fried.
• Buffet table
  If eating from a buffet table, fill your first plate with salads and vegetables. By the time you get to the main course options, you'll be less likely to take too much food.
• Dessert sharing
  Finish your main meal before deciding whether to have dessert. Share dessert with your guest(s).
• Plan exercise
  If you know you’ll be eating out, exercise a bit more that day.
• Snack before
  Eat something healthy shortly before going out to take off the hunger edge and prevent ordering too much or the wrong type of food.
• Drink water
  Drink a glass of water before eating to help fill you up.
• Liquid calories
  Consider the calories in each beverage, especially alcohol.