Food is not only the source of the nutrition we need for survival, it is also a way to bring family and friends together. Because of this, restaurants have become an increasingly popular place to meet and share a meal. If the ambience is right, the food tastes good, the kids behave and the service is great, then going to the restaurant is considered good – or is it?
Restaurants are viewed as a convenience, and, in moderation, can serve as a good alternative to home cooking. The problem is that Americans have surpassed moderately using restaurants as a special treat and have turned this convenience into a habit. In 1970, 25.9 percent of all food spending was done at restaurants; by 2012, that number rose to 43.1 percent. Interestingly, this statistic has risen at nearly the same rate as obesity levels in the United States. The popular chain restaurants, where many Americans choose to dine, focus on making the largest, most mouth-watering dishes, which often equate to a high caloric composition of fats, salt and sugar.
Despite its delicious taste and attraction, the average restaurant meal contains 134 more calories than homemade meals. While 134 calories may not seem like a huge number, the increase in the amount of fats, sugar and sodium is a deadly combination, especially considering that unhealthy weight-related annual medical costs totaled $147 billion in 2008. The more we eat out, the more likely we are to consume “bad” calories, which in turn could negatively affect our quality of living as well as our wallets. How can you combat this negative habit and create a healthier lifestyle? Choose restaurant meals wisely and make more home cooked meals.
If you choose to eat out, pick a restaurant that serves healthier options and read about their nutritional content. It is important to review this content for any meal you would like to consume because although it may seem healthy, it isn’t necessarily the healthiest option for you. For example, the Oriental Chicken Salad from Applebee’s is an entrée that has sliced chicken over a bed of greens, toasted almonds and comes with an oriental vinaigrette. It would appear to be healthy right? When you get a closer look, this salad is really a calorie bomb. The entrée contains 1380 total calories and 99 grams of fat (15 of which are saturated fat). This is nearly three times the calorie count of a Big Mac! This is why it can be deceptive to choose a healthy-looking option based on the eye test. Take the time to review the nutritional content – it’s worth the extra minute!
The second solution towards combating this negative habit is making home cooked meals. Cooking at home is not only a healthier option, but is also an excellent way to spend time with family and friends. Making a home cooked meal is good for your health because not only are you able to control the meal’s ingredients, you are also able to prepare meals ahead of the week to avoid over eating and spending money on ordering take-out. When you are planning your meals and grocery shopping, consider the type of food you are buying; anything that is boxed, canned or processed – which usually contain additional calories for flavor and preservative ingredients – should be avoided. It is always best to purchase fresh ingredients. Also, keep an eye out for foods that come from big distributors; they often contain chemicals that help increase food production and help preserve their produce. To keep these item in mind, Breastcancer.org created two lists of produce that are grouped based on their exposure to possible contamination. They call these lists “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Clean 15.” Using the ingredients from the “Clean 15,” or even the organic “Dirty Dozen,” can help you take the health leap you need.
At the end of the day, it is our responsibility to care about our own health and wellness. Restaurants provide a great service, and not all of them serve unhealthy options, but convenience should not be the sole reason for choosing to eat out. Make choosing healthier ingredients and then creating a delicious meal together a fun experience. Give your kids, spouse or relatives different tasks to accomplish together. It will be worth it – you and your health will be better for it.