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Healthy Hints for Eating Out with Kids
Here are some tips from the American Dietetic Association to help your child make healthy food choices when eating out.
Breakfast:
- Order an English Muffin, toast or a bagel instead of a croissant, biscuit, muffin or other pastry.
- Choose Canadian bacon or ham instead of sausages.
- When ordering pancakes, make sure portion sizes are appropriate and skip the butter.
Lunch or Dinner:
- Ask for low-fat dressing.
- Avoid mayonnaise and cheese on burgers and sandwiches.
- Use catsup, mustard or barbecue sauce instead.
- Order low-fat milk, fruit juice, or water instead of a soft drink or milkshake.
- Stick with baked potatoes, broiled or poached items.
- Avoid fried items such as fish and chicken patty sandwiches.
Eating Out Reminders
- Ask to substitute a baked potato for fries.
- Watch portion sizes. If portions are too large, split one entrée between two children or ask for a take-out container.
- Ask that bread and beverages be served with the meal and not before.
- Avoid buttery items, and any fried foods.
- Look beyond the children’s menu. Children’s menus are often limited to fried and other high calorie foods.
- Ask for dressings on the side.
- Skip the sour cream.
- Look for broth based soups.
- Look for low-fat frozen yogurt if you have to have dessert.