Diet-to-Go

Dear J.H.,

Relax.  There is always a way to choose healthier when dining out.  Let's start with your three favorite restaurants.

Chinese:  It can be misleading to look at a plate of Chinese: It can be misleading to look at a plate of vegetables and chicken, only to learn it has over 900 calories! With all the oil that gets added, the calories really start to add up. Sodium is another concern, with more than a day's worth in one meal. Get the meat and vegetables steamed with no sauce. Aim for lean protein choices or more vegetables and skip any added sauces such as duck or soy sauce, since these contribute unneeded sodium. Ask for brown rice instead of white rice to add-in your extra fiber.

Italian: Keep in mind portion control. Split an entrée with a friend and choose an entrée with red sauce versus white sauce. Skip the Italian bread that comes with the meal and opt for a side salad. For pizza, try brick-oven style since it has a thinner crust and is cooked on a wire rack rather than a greasy pizza pan. On your pizza choose vegetable toppings and skip high fat meats such as sausage and pepperoni. A healthier slice of pizza will average 230-250 calories, rather than 350 or more calories.

Mexican: Find an entrée which involves lean protein and very little cheese such as customizing your own salad with no shell. Don't be fooled by the popular cheese quesadilla - it contains 900 calories! Burritos can vary in calories up to 1,300 calories per burrito depending on ingredients and size. Consider ordering a half portion with a side salad. Watch out for the tortilla chips that come with the meal - each has 25 calories.

One last word of advice: If you follow your Diet-to-Go meal plan 90% of the time, you can afford to enjoy a night out with family or friends. Portion control is key

I'm 49 years old and I have been dieting for much of my adult life.

My first real weight loss attempt was during my college years -- and it was a doozy. I ran for miles while wearing a rubber, long-sleeved top... and I did oodles of sit-ups while holding a weight on my chest.

The end result: I lost weight. But it was only temporary due to my crazy fitness program.

My post-college diets haven't fared much better. I tried a soup diet of my own creation. Basically it was one two-serving can of Progresso or Campbell's or Healthy Choice soup plus a small can of corn, peas, green beans or carrots for my lunch and dinner.

Soup is good food... just not for 2 meals a day!

The more traditional diets included Jenny Craig (small portions, big cost, so-so taste)... Atkins (go meat! but yearned for sub rolls, pasta and bread)... Weight Watchers Points (good for stretches but I always tired of the math work)...

While working as editor of a major dieting site, I had written about Diet-to-Go before finally trying it. This is the BEST DIET I have ever followed. Over a 9-week stretch I lost 30 pounds while eating real, good food. There's no measuring, no math, no shopping, no cooking... nothing but great food and lots of it!

Last night for dinner I had whitefish parmigiana. It's a dish to diet for... there's so much cheese you can't believe you are eating to lose weight!

And that was not an exception -- the rule here is ALL GOOD ALL THE TIME!

Diet-to-Go is the only meal plan I recommend for people serious about losing weight while eating great.