Dining out and trying to keep your calorie intake within a healthy range can be an overwhelming challenge. With more and more people living hectic lives around their jobs, family and home, it's not surprising that more people turn to some type of food establishment outside of home during the week.
That number is not slowing down either. In the 1970's, around 36% of a person's food budget was spent on food outside of the home. That number has shot up to over 48% of the food budget.
Along with that increase in dining out is a continued increase in obesity rates in the United States. Researchers at John's Hopkins University determined that between the 1960's and 2004, obesity rates climbed from 13% to 32%.
What are some of the factors as it relates to dining out? Well, portion sizes for one, have more than doubled. Many food entrees are all cheesed up, battered and fried with cream sauces thrown over them and scant sign of vegetables. Many entrees at popular restaurants are packing more calories in one meal than a person needs in an entire day. Fast food restaurants are-- well--fast compared to full service restaurants and pack heavy calorie loads and not much balanced nutrition. If you happen to live in an area that has more convenience stores and fast food restaurants and you eat out several times a week, you've probably already packed on quite a few extra pounds.
People are making worse choices in this depressed economy as well and choosing to spend their money on huge, fattening portions compared to healthier choices because they need to feel they are 'getting their money's worth'. If you watch TV you may remember a commercial where three young men are given the choice of picking either a 'meaty calzone' or a 'turkey sandwich' for five dollars. Of course they each pick the meaty calzone because they are getting 'more for their money'. Well, that is not all they are getting more of. That meaty calzone is paking over 1400 calories and 66 grams of fat. Compare that to the turkey breast sub at 280 calories and 3.5 grams of fat and it is easy math to figure out why we are in so much trouble with our weight.
It's challenge, but definitely possible to make your restaurant meal healthier and less fat and calorie laden. That's where you and what you know must make the difference. There are many websites out there that will give you the calorie counts of the restaurants you eat at. Restaurant dining, for better and worse, is not likely to change in the near future but your food choices can.
Tags: Dining Calories Weightloss
