Health - Order Healthy

Posted February 11, 2008

You’ve heard the expression “You are what you eat.” Well, there truly is something to that. Remember that nearly every restaurant has nutritious choices you should consider when you order.

Choose dishes prepared with the least amount of fat, salt, and sugar. Order sauces, gravies, and dressings on the side—like Meg Ryan’s character in When Harry Met Sally. Don’t hesitate to ask what type of fat the food contains or to request that little or no salt be used to prepare it. With that said, some restaurants are better than others at achieving a balance between flavor and healthy eating.

At Spain Inn II (1045 Route 173 West, Asbury; 908-479-4084), all items are prepared with little fat, and dishes like artichoke hearts vinaigrette, served with tomatoes, lemon, and lettuce, are light and delicious. However, in many cases salt has been used to replace the flavor of fat, and dishes like garlic soup are far too salty.

At Suilan (Borgata Hotel & Casino, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City; 609-677-1000), there are only a few fried items on the menu, and there is no salt or pepper on the tables; you must request it. The delicious Kobe beef carpaccio is served with a small amount of crushed peanuts (a good source of monounsaturated fat) and nutrient-dense baby greens; even though beef contains unhealthy saturated fat, the portion size of about 2 ounces is very small. The soup of seafood wonton with lobster-lemongrass broth seems to have been prepared with no added salt—a rare achievement.

 Article from December, 2005 Issue.

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