Restaurant Tip

I love Lisa Lillen, aka Hungry Girl. She has amazing tips for weight loss and great ideas on substituting other ingredients in recipes to make them less calories!

So the next time you get to go out on a nice date with your husband, or just out dinner, use some her recent tips at different types of restaurant's:

Mexican-
You might think the salad is the healthiest option here. But HG says most taco salads are smothered in fatty toppings and served in greasy shells. Go with chicken or shrimp soft tacos for about 200 calories each, pass on the sour cream and pile on some salsa. Spicy food helps you feel satisfied and may even boost your metabolism.

Chinese-
Broth based soups fill you up, so have a cup of egg drop or hot and sour soup for about 80 calories. Then share an order of steamed shrimp dumplings about 50 calories per dumping. Then get beef with broccoli. It will be plenty of food, as most Chinese entrees are meant for two. Order any entree steamed with sauce on the side to cut the fat.

Italian-
Order an appetizer as soon as you're seated, such as minestrone soup or side salad with vinegar and oil, so you won't be tempted to devour the entire bread basket. If you want pasta, ask for it as a side to grilled chicken or fish dish get the taste you love but in a smaller portion. Just be sure to skip the creamy Alfredo sauces, choose a tomato based sauce instead.

Japanese-
Start with the super light miso soup, edamame, or seaweed salad. Then steer clear of rolls with the words tempura, crunch, dynamite and spider in them. Those are typically stuffed with fried shrimp and crab or covered in globs of mayo. Instead, share a variety of more traditional fish or veggies rolls, like salon or yellowtail and some sashimi.

American-
Start with the ultimate guilt free appetizer, shrimp cocktail. An order usually has less than 100 calories and hardly any fat. Next, take a look for petite sirloin or filet mignon with veggies instead of spuds. Don't like steak? Try a non fried app and a salad instead of an entree;. Ad those trendy mini desserts, go for it.