When dining out, do you start your meal out on the light foot? You waited 15 minutes to be seated and your stomach is growling by the time you finally get your table. Your first instinct is to dig in to the basket of warm bread or feast recklessly on the chips and salsa. If you're reaching for the bread basket, chip basket or anything else that's dropped on the table pre-meal, the answer is probably a resounding "no." Although the salsa is healthy enough, a one-ounce serving of chips has a whopping 138 calories. Says you have two to three ounces. You can possibly consume upwards of 414 calories... before your meal ever arrives. Just one breadstick from Olive Garden weighs in at 140 calories. And if you even think of spreading butter on any of these offering, that will cost you about 100 calories and 14 grams of fat per tablespoon. So how do you resist those scrumptious starters -- ask your server to keep the bread basket or tortilla chips.
There's no need to show refrain; simply eliminate temptation by asking your server to hold these pre-meal fillers. Instead drink a glass of ice water to stave off hunger pains. If you do want to indulge without going overboard, go slow. Try having the bread without the butter. Put a handful of chips and a spoonful of salsa on your plate and don't allow yourself to go back for seconds. Practice moderation. If you're really feeling hungry, order a salad with light or fat-free dressing on the side as soon as the server takes your order. That way you're certain to have food on the table in no time.
