For many people, eating take away or even eating out is a way to relax and socialise. But if you are watching your weight or just are concerned with healthy eating, this can be a challenge. The good news is that usually there are healthier options at every restaurant.

•  Order a salad with lean meat, low-fat or fat-free cheese, and other healthy toppings. Choose low-fat or fat-free salad dressing and ask for the dressing on the side so you can control how much you use.
• Choose foods that are baked, broiled, braised, grilled, steamed, sauteed or boiled. Avoid fried food.
• Hold the “special sauces”. Ask the kitchen not to top your dish with butter or whipped cream.
• Select foods with a tomato- based or red sauce instead of a cream- based or white sauce. Tomato based sauces usually contain more vitamins, less fat and fewer calories.
• Use portion control: Skip the “large size”. Ask for a “small” or share a portion.
• Ask for food to be prepared without added salt and don’t add your own table salt to the dish.
• Drink water, fat-free or low-fat milk, or other drinks without added sugars.
• Instead of fries, try a small baked potato, side salad with low- fat or fat-free dressing or fruit.

Last but not least try not to order dessert. You can always have some sorbet or even a small piece of chocolate at home, which would be much better health wise than the Triple Chocolate Meltdown or a mountain of ice cream topped by a second mountain of whipped cream.