Food writer and public relations maven Jill Silva of Kansas City eats out — a lot. It’s a big part of her job.
She’s trying to establish healthier habits, at restaurants and at the gym. Here, Silva, 60, offers a few pointers for responsibly enjoying restaurants.
- Allow yourself to enjoy it (within boundaries). “If you go out to eat, you don’t want to order the salad. You want something special.”
- Ask questions about what’s on the menu, how it’s prepared, and what the ingredients are. You don’t want to be surprised in a bad way when the plate’s put before you.
- Favor real food as opposed to processed components. “If they can’t tell you how something was prepared, or if it came in a bag, carton or jar, then it’s probably not something good for you,” Silva says. When grocery shopping, go for better bread at a bakery instead of processed loaves off the supermarket shelf, if you can.
- Remember that higher-end restaurants serve reasonably sized portions, compared to casual chains that encourage gorging.
- Support local farmers if you can. Grow some produce yourself. You’ll taste the difference.
And remember, she says, don’t be a snob about food. It has many places in life, and you should do the best you can to fit it into your healthy lifestyle.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.