Dining Out, Staying Healthy

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

The vegetarian, vegan, and health-conscious among us have plenty of choices beyond tofu and sprouts when dining out.

For expert guidance, try a nutrition expert like Melissa Lippert of Nourish NYC. But if you're the one choosing the dinner destination, Pure Food and Wine at Irving Place offers organic and seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds to create a "unique, award-winning culinary experience." At uptown classic Candle Café, the focus is on farm-fresh organic and seasonal vegetarian foods. Josie's is another well-known vegetarian and healthy menu mini-empire. Organic wine bar and bistro Counter offers downtown diners similarly-crafted menu items in an elegant, intimate space, and Broadway East offers wholesome ingredients and a predominantly vegetarian menu with a few fish and poultry selections in a sophisticated, candle-lit spot on the Lower East Side.

If you're going the old-school restaurant route, salad is always a good choice. Choose more nutritious darker greens instead of iceberg lettuce, avoid the fat traps of bacon, cheese, and creamy dressing, and go for healthful proteins like walnuts and non-breaded chicken. To top it off, "healthy fats" like olive oil in dressing actually fill you up more than "diet" dressings. Even a trip to Starbucks doesn't have to be a calorie-laden nutrition nightmare. Green and white tea– unsweetened–are good choices for their antioxidant properties, or reach for a small skim latte. Add a little discipline–eat smaller portions, don't feel the need to clean your plate–and eating out won't cancel out your healthy lifestyle.

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Dining Out, Staying Healthy

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

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