Eating away from home is something we can do quite regularly these days, so it is important to take care with food choices.  Try these 10 suggestions for making wise choices.

1. Have light, regular meals during the day so you’re not ravenous when you reach the café or restaurant. But it can help to ‘bank’ some portions/calories for any extras you’ll have. 
2. Shun butter on bread, garlic bread or foccacia.
3. Keep to one or two courses.
4. Show some American savvy and request how you would like a dish cooked or served. Ask for any sauces ‘on the side’, so you can add to taste.
5. Skip high fat pastry, deep fried and battered foods, mayonnaise, oily dressings, butter, cream or cheese sauces.
6. Look for dishes described as ‘grilled’, ‘char grilled’, ‘poached’, ‘stir fried’, ‘steamed’, ‘cooked in its own juice’ or with pomodoro or wine sauce’.
7. Half fill your plate with vegetables or salad - and add a portion of non-fried potatoes, rice, pasta or noodles.
8. Go for fruit-based desserts or sorbets.
9. Don’t feel you have to finish everything on your plate. Food is more of a waste if you eat it when you don’t want it.   
10. Watch alcohol. Quench thirst with water; alternate alcoholic with non-alcoholic drinks, try wine spritzers, and choose low-cal mixers.