Deciphering the Menu: Tips for Eating at Steakhouses

You're hungry and craving for tasty food and a friend suggests eating at a steakhouse.  You panic and wonder if you will be able to stay within your target caloric range and fat intake. Don't panic! You can still make healthy choices without going overboard on the calories, fat and sodium. Make sensible choices and remember, "Don't forget to eat your steamed vegetables."

This information was retrieved from the American Heart Association "Dining Out Tips." http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1101

Tips

• Don’t order king-sized cuts. About 3 ounces of a thinly sliced cut is perfect, or choose a 6-ounce steak and enjoy non-meat entrees the rest of the day
  
• Steakhouses generally prepare your food to order, so ask to have all visible fat trimmed before the meat is cooked.
  
• Many steakhouses do a superb job with seafood — look for fish on the menu and ask your server about the catch of the day.

Instead of :  Fatty cuts of meat, such as rib eye, porterhouse, T-bone

Try:  Leaner cuts of meat, such as London broil, filet mignon, round or flank steak, sirloin tip, tenderloin


Instead of: French fried, au gratin or scalloped potatoes

Try: Baked potato or rice (preferrably steamed brown or wild rice to increase your fiber intake)


Instead of: Caesar or marinated salad

 Try: Green salad with dressing on the side


Instead of: Fried vegetables
 Try: Steamed vegetables

 
Instead of: Pie and ice cream
  Try: Angel food cake or sherbet

Picture Credits:
Photograph of the filet with vegetables was taken from the American Heart Association Website