Most continental dishes are full of cream, cheese and refined carbohydrates. But if you want to eat a nutritious meal at a continental restaurant, make sure you order the right way. Follow these tips by nutritionist Priya Kathpal to keep your healthy-eating goals on track.
Skip refined foods in breakfast: If you take a quick scan of the breakfast buffet you will find sweetened, cereals, pastries and donuts rich in carbohydrates, fat and sugar. But instead of indulging in these, go for small offerings of fruits or yoghurt. Ask the staff if they serve unsweetened cereals. Eat eggs if available as they are going to keep you satiated for long. These tastefully healthy breakfast recipes will make your mornings.
Skip the bread basket: One of the best ways to eat healthfully is to pass on the bread. Bread is made of white flour which is stripped of all nutritional qualities. One medium piece of bread can contain around 100 calories while a spoonful of butter can add another 36 calories. If you absolutely cannot pass on the bread, control your portions and replace the butter with olive oil. Order a salad at the start of your meal so that you don t miss the bread basket.
Order a healthy appetiser: Many continental appetisers are served with cream, adding too many calories on your plate. Instead, go for something like a minestrone soup (without pasta or rice in it) so that you save on calories without skipping on the flavour as well as the nutrients. Order starters prepared with olive oil instead of cream which is high in saturated fat. Find out the number of calories in your favourite Indian starter.
Go light on the cheese: For your main course, order a pasta with red sauce instead of white because white usually has more cream and cheese. Also, avoid creamy casseroles. Many restaurants nowadays serve whole grain pasta so go for that one. You can also go for items which are baked, grilled or steamed instead of fried. Order a thin-crust pizza and opt for those with chicken or vegetable toppings instead of pepperoni.
Don t add salt: Due to the sauces, cream and other ingredients, almost all continental dishes are high in sodium. While you can do very little to reduce sodium content in restaurants; you can always leave the salt shaker on the table. Here are 5-star Chef Harpreet Sahai's tips for eating healthy at a restaurant.
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