Children’s Menus

Eating out with children can be a frustrating experience for any parent. Most will take the easy way out and choose the kid friendly fast food places that offer the processed foods kids like on their Children’s Menus.

Unfortunately, most of those foods are fattening choices that hold little nutritional value for their growing bodies. Children can be a handful at restaurants and they can be finicky eaters as well, but you can make their meals healthier and more nutritious.

If you must go to a fast food restaurant, try to avoid the kid’s meals unless they offer healthy substitutes like fruit instead of fries. They usually contain fattening foods like chicken nuggets and fries.

If they want the double cheeseburger, downsize it to a junior burger and don’t let them add all of the mayonnaise and fried bacon so that you can eliminate some unnecessary fat while keeping their diet more in the nutritious range.

Take the meal to a park (or to your home) to avoid having them be tempted by seeing what other kids are eating. Sometimes parents give in to their children’s demands and buy fattening fries just to avoid the embarrassing tantrums they can throw in the restaurant.

Many restaurants where you sit down to eat have healthier Children’s Menus options.  If your child is rambunctious, go to one where the kids can color on their menu.  Or play games with them until the food comes, like, “ I see something that starts with the letter A” – and let them have fun trying to guess what it is.

This helps encourage them to eat healthier choices for their meals because they don’t develop a reliance on drive-through fare.  Try to make compromises on their food choices.

See if they’ll go for toast with jam instead of the fattening pastry treats they usually like to have. A little extra sugar-free jam on whole grain toast is still better than a sugar-laden donut.

Children can eat healthy if you try some unique ways to sway their choices from the non-nutritional items they’ve grown accustomed to ordering.  Be persistent but flexible as your child navigates a new way of eating healthy. 

Edna says, look out for the children’s menus and do not forget to try The Nutrisystem Diet Plan 

Restaurant Eating

Eating out at a restaurant is a pleasurable experience as far as getting waited on and enjoying the relaxing atmosphere. But the other side to restaurant eating is that it can wind up being more fattening than just enjoying a meal at home.

There’s nothing wrong with letting a restaurant cook for you – as long as you do some thinking ahead and special requesting when you order. Here are some tips to keep in mind for a healthier meal out.

Choose a healthier restaurant - Try going to the places that advertise healthier menu choices.  Some restaurants have special sections on their menus specifically for low calorie or low fat food choices.

Don’t be afraid to speak up and request something off the menu.

Dressing on the side - Salads are healthy choices, but some places put too much dressing on their salads, which can cost you unnecessary calories and fat. Simply order the dressing to come on the side and you can control the amount that goes on to your salad.

Choose places that cook with olive oil - Most restaurants will cook with fattening butter, because it’s less expensive for them than healthier olive oil. Don’t be afraid to ask whether a restaurant uses butter or olive oil to cook with – and request that your meal be prepared without lard or butter.

Omit items - If you just have to have that juicy burger, consider ordering it without the cheese, bacon or mayonnaise (or even the bun)!  Sometimes, omitting the cheese alone can save you as much as 25g of fat.

Avoid Buffets - The foods that you see in the buffets are ones the restaurants can easily make in bulk. These usually turn out to be fattening fried foods or pasta dishes. If you think you can easily steer clear of the fattening items and stick with healthier salads and foods, then go ahead and enjoy the buffet!

There’s nothing wrong with restaurant eating out once in awhile as long as you don’t overdo it. Don’t just watch what you order, but consider the size of the portions, too.  Ask for a to go box right when your food comes and put half of the food in it for you to eat as leftovers the next day.

Edna says, be smart when it comes to restaurant eating and do not forget to try The Nutrisystem Diet Plan

Fast Food Facts

In this day and age, convenience has become our friend. With busy lives and careers that take up a good chunk of our days, fast food restaurants are seen as an easy way to get dinner on the table.

Who has time to slave over a hot stove making a meal for the family when you work an 8-10 hour day?  Although the convenience of fast food restaurants is definitely appealing, they’re not the best choices for nutritious meals. Let’s explore some facts about the fast food meals you might order for your family’s dinner:

McDonald’s - Juicy hamburgers with a side of fries sound delicious. But if you take a regular Double Quarter Pound Cheeseburger with a side of medium sized fries, you’ll see that you’re consuming approximately 60g of fat and 1,100 calories total for the fries and the cheeseburger (not to mention whatever you wash it down with). If you’re on a 2,000 calorie diet, you would have met over half of that with only one meal.

Kentucky Fried Chicken - Their chicken is a popular choice for a quick and easy meal. But one original recipe chicken breast is approximately 21g of fat and 360 calories. If you have 2 chicken breasts from one of their popular family bucket meals, you’re looking at 42g of fat and 720 calories. This doesn’t include any side dishes that might come with the meal, such as mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or potato wedges.

Pizza Hut Pizza – It’s so easy to come home exhausted and fall prey to the convenience of pizza delivery. A Large Pepperoni pan pizza has about 14g of total fat and 270 total calories per slice.

If you eat 2 slices of that pizza, you will have consumed around 28g of fat and about 540 calories total. Add extra cheese or other toppings and you’ll cost yourself even more fat and calories.

Subway – You think you’re eating healthy, but it depends on what menu item you choose. A 6” Chicken Parmesan sandwich is approximately 18g of fat and around 500 calories. This doesn’t include any sides. If you add more sauce to your sandwich, you’ll need to figure more calories into the equation.

It’s best to steer clear of fast food eateries, but if you’re forced to go to one for convenience, try to scout out the menu ahead of time on the Internet to find out what menu options they have that won’t blow your diet plan for the entire day.

Edna says, to avoid fast foods and  try  The Nutrisystem Diet Plan

Eating Habits

In the evening hours, television has become the primary means of entertainment for many.  According to Nielsen ratings, the average household watches about 54 hours of television a week.  Most of this programming is watched in the evening.

Unfortunately, because of this diversion, unhealthy eating habits have formed. Snacking in front of the television is becoming a favorite past time for us. The snacks you choose are usually easy to prepare and taste great, but are bad for your waistline.

Potato chips are one of the more popular options that people snack on while watching their favorite shows. While they’re easy to eat, they also come in many flavors and different textures.  Ice cream is another example of a popular TV snack for the same reason.  

What is it that drives us to scarf down snacks during our favorite programs?  For some, it’s a bad eating habit that’s developed over time.  For others, it may be a temptation brought on by the endless amount of commercials that promote the snacks you crave.

Regrettably, too much snacking and sitting will eventually turn into an expanded waistline.  How can this be prevented?  If you feel the need to munch on something, try to opt for a healthier choice.  But even a healthy snack can be pointless if you consume too much in one sitting. 

The biggest problem with snacking in front of the television is that you’re easily distracted from the bag of chips or tub of ice cream in front of you and before you know it, most of it’s in your belly.  Try to keep your snack to a sensible portion, such as a small bowl.

Low-level exercise is a great alternative to useless snacking.  Walk on that treadmill! Ride that exercise bike! Or get on that elliptical! It only takes about half hour to get the benefits from it.  Not only are you distracted from exercising, but your attention is diverted from food. 

You could also try to limit the amount of time you spend watching television. Spend quality time with your family by playing games or engaging in a hobby that everyone can enjoy.  Or you could just sit back and read a good book.

Moderation is key, in both time spent watching television and snacking in front of it.  Keeping yourself under control will help keep any bad eating habits from forming and will help you maintain a manageable waistline.

Edna says, to avoid bad eating habits try  The Nutrisystem Diet Plan

Midnight Snacks

12:30 A.M.  You look at the clock and decide to head to the fridge for a little snack.  Satisfied, you return to bed until morning.  Sound familiar?  If so, then you’re one of millions who are guilty of this simple indulgence.

Breaking yourself of the habit of having a midnight snack can be difficult to do, but it CAN be done. It’ll take some persistence and patience to achieve your goal.  Depending on how severe your cravings are, it can take as little as two weeks, or up to two months to control them.

This longing for food in the wee hours of the night may be brought on by hunger, not habit.  If hunger is your problem, you may not be eating enough during the day.  Either you’re eating too few meals during the day or you’re not eating enough calories to sustain your body through the night.

One way to restrain yourself from late night munching is to eat several smaller meals during the day. In doing this, you get the calories you need and your stomach isn’t empty.  It’s also healthier to eat this way than to eat a few big meals during the day. 

Eating a large dinner will delay digestion and hinder your sleep.  Eating a high-carb snack at bedtime, such as fruit or crackers, can help you sleep better and keep your stomach at rest until morning. 

You might also try a glass of warm milk.  Not only does it help you relax, but also it’ll help you feel full.  Try to avoid drinking alcohol in the evening hours.  While having a nightcap may help ease and calm you, it intensifies your appetite and adds needless calories to your diet. 

Don’t drink beverages with a high amount of caffeine.  These can hamper a good night’s sleep.  If you wake up in the middle of the night and your stomach needs a little something, try drinking water instead.

Sometimes water can satisfy a midnight snack craving.  If this doesn’t work, try to read a book, or listen to some soothing music to help get you back to sleep.  In time, you’ll be able to sleep soundly without being disrupted.  You may not see results overnight, but your perseverance will pay off.

Edna says, to avoid Midnight Snacks try  The Nutrisystem Diet Plan

Relationship Woes and Eating

Each of us has had a good relationship end when we didn’t want it to.  Or maybe you’re just going through a rough patch in a marriage.  Where do some turn to obscure their sorrows over this pain when they have relationship woes?  Food!

Unfortunately, food tends to become your friend when you need a shoulder to cry on or just need a comforting sensation.  Food can become the crutch you lean on for steadfast support during a turbulent time. 

Although it’s normal for some to turn to food for comfort, it’s not always a healthy option – physically or mentally. When a relationship faces hardship, or is terminated, the only help food will bring is the extra weight that’s gained while we wallow in our sorrow.

There are healthier choices to consider turning to because of a tumultuous relationship.  Lean on one of your friends for support.  Being with good friends can help boost your self-confidence as well as keeping your mind off of what’s in the fridge.

Try doing something fun, if you want to be alone. Go shopping to find something special that you’ve always wanted or, perhaps, get a makeover to feel better about yourself. Anything that can help you build confidence will help you get over the chaotic emotions you’re feeling.

You could also try a new hobby or resume one you’ve been putting off for so long.  You could join a local sports or fitness squad.  Keeping busy in body and mind helps you to ignore the unfortunate events that have ensued.

If the temptation for food is too strong for you to resist, make sure that you keep some healthy foods or snacks in your home. Stay away from chips, candy, cookies and ice cream that are beckoning you. Have low fat, sugar free or low calorie items on hand to alleviate any craving.

Everyone knows what it’s like to lament over a lost relationship or a bad marriage.  Using an abundance of food to cope with this heartache may be an effective short-term fix, but it won’t satisfy your feelings (or your health) in the long-term.

Edna says, if you’ve got relationship woes try  The Nutrisystem Diet Plan