Do you avoid the intakes of fried foods, dressings, sauces, gravies, butter, and margarine? Hi, I’m Luigi Gratton, Vice President of Nutrition Education at Herbalife. Now your answer to this week’s question better have been no because it’s vital to today’s lesson. Let’s tackle a topic that many people find intimidating, dining-out but it doesn’t have to be that way. Just use the same guidelines that we’ve taught you to practice at home and don’t think of it as an excuse to splurge. The process of dining-out starts before you leave your house, if you can, look at restaurant menus or nutritional information online for healthy options. If you can’t prepare ahead, ask the waiter if he has healthy recommendations and always make sure to ask how items are prepared. When you first arrive ask your server to remove the bread basket from the table or if you do have bread, limit it to whole grain or Rye bread without butter. You should also make sure to limit alcohol consumption, not only is it a source of additional calories, but it can also stimulate your appetite causing you to splurge. Now when dining-out you should always be looking for healthier choices course by course, for your appetizer try vegetable based soups or steamed vegetables, instead of fried or cheesy options. When deciding on an entr?e, look for low fat keywords like steamed, grilled, baked, avoid words that translate to higher fat options such as fried, saut?ed, creamed, and always ask for the sauce on the side. And speaking of sides, ask for double portions of vegetables to replace the rice or potatoes. If you’re going to select a meat dish try to choose fish and poultry over red meats which are higher in calories. If you go for a salad beware of hidden fat and calories. Try light dressings served on the side and beware of high fat extras like bacon, cheese, or shells. Finally sidestep the high calorie deserts by choosing fresh fruit, sorbet, or having a decaf coffee. Now remember restaurant portions are huge, ask for a doggie bag before the meal even begins. That way you won’t be tempted to over eat, you’ll have your next healthy meal ready to go. I know that it’s not always easy to keep your health in mind. In order to train your body to crave the right foods, you need to start in the morning. A Formula 1 Nutritional Shake from Herbalife is a great way to start your day, just add two scoops to a glass of low fat milk and mix in fresh fruit for a healthy meal that’s less than 220 calories, depending on the flavor, and provides up to 9 grams of protein. It will get you craving that healthier lifestyle that you can make better choices no matter where you are. For more information about how Herbalife products can support you and your dining habits, you can speak to your wellness coach. This concludes this week’s topic of discussion. I’m Luigi Gratton reminding you that dining-out is not an exception, it’s part of a healthy active lifestyle.