Air date: October 11, 2009

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Everyone who's been on a diet knows that eating out can be a real challenge. But it doesn't have to be that way. Jeremy Shere has more on toeing the line while eating out.

Anyone who’s ever been on diet, or just trying to eat healthier, knows that eating out can be a problem. Because, let’s face it: when you go to a restaurant the whole point is to eat delicious food, and lots of it. Sure, being healthy is great, but as soon as that fried mozzarella stick appetizer arrives? Forget it. All bets are off.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to slink out of the restaurant, digesting guilt along with all those calories.

Jill Frame is a registered dietitian at the St. Francis Weight loss Center in Indianapolis. And she says it’s very possible to eat out and still eat healthy.

"A tomato based soup, they are very very good. They have a lot of herbs and spices in them and they are going to fill up and keep you away from that bread but they are going to be a very healthy choice that you are going to fill up on before your meal comes."

Another things to watch out for, Frame says, is portion size. What arrives on the plates is often enough food for two meals. So eat about half, and take the rest home.

And that endless bread bowl that keeps getting refilled? Stay away. Enjoy a slice or two, then politely decline when the waiter asks if you need more bread.

Finally, here’s a tip for you carnivores: some cuts of meat are better for you waistline than others.

"My suggestion is to choose something that ends in a loin. So a beef sirloin or pork loin -- those are going to be your leanest cuts of red meat and those are going to be your best bets -- As long as they are not topped with blue cheese."

Additional Resources:

• The National Restaurant Association offers more good tips for heatlhy restaurant dining.

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