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Healthy choices abound when eating out
By Ann Marie Shambaugh, Staff Writer
Restaurants popping up around Frisco are a good sign of the city’s economic growth, but they could also lead to the growth of more waistlines.
Yet eating out does not necessarily mean eating less healthy. Restaurant patrons may follow several tips to ensure that what’s on their plate is just as healthy as eating at home.
“Almost every place that you go, there are healthy options,” said Angela Lemond, a dietician with the American Dietetic Association. “You just have to seek it out.”
“Families are busier and busier every year,” Lemond said. “They’re not necessarily going to eat out less, but they want to seek those places when they do eat out to try and make the right choices.”
She also said that she has seen a trend in restaurants providing more healthy choices for consumers.
“It’s clearly documented that as the epidemic of obesity continues to rise and as society is getting inundated about how we’re all getting fatter, people are trying to make strides in eating out healthy,” she said.
While it is possible to find healthy choices at most restaurants, some make it easier than others. Applebee’s offers Weight Watchers options as part of their menu, complete with nutrition information for those on the plan.
Even fast food restaurants, often known for fattening burgers and greasy fries, are beginning to offer healthier options. Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A have begun offering healthier side items such as fruit cups, and KFC plans to offer grilled chicken alongside the original and extra crispy choices.
Lemond recommends requesting added fats such as salad dressings on the side, boxing up half of a meal before eating it, and asking for grilled rather than fried foods to limit calorie intake when eating out. She also said that maintaining a reasonable portion size is important.
For those with a sweet tooth, Frisco will soon have a zero carbohydrate, zero calorie treat. Bahama Bucks is planning to open a new restaurant in town in the coming months at an undetermined location. .
Bahama Bucks offers smoothies, fruit cups, and more than 100 flavors of shaved ice, including “thin ice” sugar-free options in 20 flavors daily.
“When we founded our company we knew there was a need for [healthy desserts],” Bahama Bucks founder Blake Buchanan said. “Any time consumers go to a dessert store their options are very limited … We decided it was our duty to provide options for everyone.”
Until the restaurant opens its doors n or for those who prefer a more traditional, calorie-laden dessert n Lemond said eating desserts and staying healthy can work together. She said her philosophy is that no food is off limits, as long as all foods are eaten in moderation.
“It’s not one food that’s going to label you unhealthy,” she said. “It’s going to be eating patterns. [The American Dietetic Association] preaches moderation, variety, and balance over and over again.”
She recommends sharing a dessert or planning to take a walk for those who can’t resist double fudge brownies and similar desserts.
For information on nutrition or to find a dietician, visit www.eatright.org.
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