Can restaurant foods meet nutrient needs or support health as well as homemade foods? What are examples of ways to improve a restaurant meal?

Answer 1

It is possible to eat restaurant foods and meet nutrient needs with a healthful diet. However, making it happen takes some effort. Most often, restaurant foods are overly endowed with calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt but often lack fiber, iron, or calcium. Vegetables and fruits may not be on the menu and a single meat or pasta portion may exceed a whole day's recommended intake. However, there are ways to make restaurant food fit into a healthful diet. Some examples: Restrict your portions to sizes that do not exceed your energy needs. Ask that excess portions be placed in take-out containers right away. Ask for extra vegetables, fruit, or salad and request whole-grain breads and pasta. Make judicious choices of foods that stay within intake guidelines for solid fats, added sugars, and salt.