Weighing in on Menu Wording

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more details.
by Litsa @How to Have it All on March 1, 2014

menu1943

When you are dining out and watching what you eat, do you find that the two just don’t mesh well at times!?! Many times….

I do. The menu is nicely organized with platters of food that are loaded with everything that bloats my body. And to think I was choosing the healthiest dish on the menu….

Did I really just read that in English or did the server bring me something foreign!?!

The dishes you and I order at restaurants can be confusing. Here’s a little scale that you may want to consider prior to dining out:

BEST to Worst (Scale found in Fitness Magazine March 2014 issue):

  • Infused: Steeping tea leaves, herbs or fruit adds flavor–but no extra calories–to liquids like oil, vinegar, and alcohol.
  • Roasted: Food that’s roasted are cooked in an oven or over a fire at a high temperature. A little oil or broth is used to keep it from sticking to the pan.
  • Toasted: A safe bet for nuts but not for burger buns or sandwiches, which have probably been griddled in butter. Ask for those to be dry-toasted.
  • Pickled: Pickled veggies are low in fat but high in sodium, thanks to the brine (heavily salted water) they’re immersed in.
  • Smothered: This describes two very different preparations: slow-cooked in a covered pan with a little liquid or buried in a heavy butter or cream sauce. Check with your server before ordering.
  • Smoked: Cooking over a low fire imparts a smoky taste without fat, but it causes carcinogens to form.
  • Glazed: Technically, a glaze is just a liquid coating, but typically it’s syrupy and packed with sugar.

This list is just a scale. What you have to weigh in on is how you eat in a normal day/week at home? If your body is not used to all the add-ins (on restaurant platters & appetizers & desserts), you can expect bloat and fatigue to set in later. Order water and tread carefully when ordering–indulge in dishes that delight.

Each food choice we make rules our body.

Choose wisely!

Bing Photo Credit Menu

Food Scale Credit: Fitness Magazine March 2014

The following two tabs change content below.

Litsa @How to Have it All

Litsa is a stay at home mom to a beautiful little girl. She is a native of Greece and now resides in Tennessee. As a former teacher, Litsa wears many hats that it takes to make a home a functioning home!

Latest posts by Litsa @How to Have it All (see all)