RIO Fitness Chicago® Exercise & Nutrition Blog

RIO Fitness Chicago® Tip:

Do your plans for this weekend include dinner and/or Sunday brunch? Healthy eating is about making smarter choices no matter where you are. Here's how you can do dinner & brunch and avoid the fat trap:

Dinner
1) Try logging onto the restaurant's website ahead of time and decide what to order, including your special drink. You'll be less likely to spontaneously place a gigantic order when the waiter arrives at your table.

2) Order something you like, but limit your portions to keep calories to less than about 600. At the steakhouse, try a petite fillet with steamed vegetables and half a baked potato. Out for Mexican? Try two fish tacos with guacamole. Sushi night? Go for edamame and 8 to 10 pieces of sushi. And rather than order a calorie-filled specialty cocktail, indulge in a 100-calorie drink, such as a small glass of wine or light beer.

3) Always have the waiter remove any bread/chips.

Brunch
1) Order the eggs Benedict. The eggs are poached, so there's no oil; Canadian bacon is less fatty than its American cousin; and the English muffin has fewer calories than two slices of whole-wheat toast.

2) Try a made-to-order omelet (ask for two egg whites and one whole egg) with spinach, tomatoes and a sprinkle of feta cheese, with a side of fruit salad and unbuttered rye toast (596 calories); you'll get protein from the eggs as well as a healthy dose of fiber from the spinach.Have a great weekend!