Eat out 'n' grow

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, Oct, 2004

Restaurants can be a challenge for the health-conscious eater. The portions are big and the atmosphere encourages eating for social reasons rather than physical ones like hunger. If you eat out frequently, losing or maintaining weight may be more difficult than if you ate a greater number of your meals at home. A recent study from the department of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University (University Park) found that in a restaurant setting, increasing the size of an entree results in increased calorie consumption. If you can't get away from eating out, come up with a game plan so that all your healthy efforts aren't blown by a simple restaurant meal. By planning to eat only an appetizer or share with a friend, you'll diminish your chances of waistline expansion.

Source: Diliberti, N, Bordi, PL, Conklin, MT, Roe, LS, Rolls, BJ. Obesity Research 12:562-568, 2004.