"Dine Out...Without Gaining A Pound"

Cynthia Sass, R.D. is a nutritionist and also writes great articles for Shape magazine. Click here to find a link to her blog.  Listed below are 12 of her tips to help you curb calories when dining out, whether it be quick-serve or the sit-down type.

1. Substitute a side of black beans for the mashed potatoes that come with your barbecued chicken.  290 calories saved
2. Hold the mayo-based sauce in a sandwich or wrap, and ask for a drizzle of light balsamic vinaigrette instead.  130 calories saved
3. Choose a spicy pomodora sauce over Bolognese (meat sauce) on your fettuccine.  160 calories saved
4. Replace a cup of macaroni salad with a green salad dressed with 2 tablespoons of light vinaigrette.  322 calories saved
5. Trade the flour tortilla on your burrito for a bed of lettuce.  280 calories saved
6. Order your two scrambled eggs and cheese on whole-grain bread instead of on a roll.  200 calories saved
7. Ditch the waffle cone and sprinkles on your soft-serve ice cream, opting instead for a cup and no toppings.  185 calories saved
8. Top an entree salad with grilled shrimp rather than grilled chicken.  138 calories saved
9. Instead of two slices of standard pepperoni pizza, switch to a thin crust and top with chicken breast, peppers, onions, and mushrooms.  160 calories saved
10. Bag the bun and request that your burger or chicken sandwich be served on a toasted English muffin instead.  230 calories saved
11. Replace the butter and syrup on your pancakes with sliced fruit.  367 calories saved
12. In a chopped salad, exchange the blue cheese for feta and skip the dried cranberries and candied walnuts.  275 calories saved

I think these sound do-able.  I'm amazed by number 10.  230 calories saved by doing an English muffin instead of a regular bun.  Wow, who knew. 

Now come on, what's a pancake without syrup?  A burrito without a tortilla is not really a burrito now is it!