The rising trend of healthy restaurants

Dining out doesn't have to mean ditching your healthier approach to eating. For starters, when perusing your menu, follow these basic principles when making your meal choices. Choose grilled over pan-fried or dipped, baked over crispy or scalloped, and braised over breaded or crumbed. The high calorie content is often hidden in food preparation, which tends towards more use of sugar and fat than you would ordinarily use when making meals at home. Thankfully, restaurants are embracing lighter options that include reduced size pizza crusts to plant-based meals. Plus, as a Vitality member, when you make healthier choices, you get rewarded with up to 25% at Vitality's HealthyDining restaurants, convenience and ready-made meal partners. And Vitality kids get up to 50% back on qualifying meals. The healthier you eat the more money you can save. Now that's great incentive!

So, despite the occasion, you don't have to cramp the festive mood with dietary considerations.

PIZZA NIGHT

What's more satisfying than sinking your teeth into a cheesy slice of dough? There's no reason to cut pizza out entirely, simply ignore the tempting deep dish and the stuffed crust alternatives and opt for the thin crust - the thinner it is, the less calories. Col'Cacchio offers an assortment of bases for weight watchers. Try the thinly rolled bases, baked in their wood-fired oven or sample their insalata range of pizzas which are medium sized pizzas with less cheese, served with a side salad. Other choices include bases made with cauliflower, psyllium husks, flax seeds, and olive oil.

DATE NIGHT

For a fun shared meal, sushi can be healthy if you choose wisely. We're not talking about the deep-fried variety drizzled with sweet and sour or barbecue sauce or mayonnaise here.

Try to limit those options with large amounts of white rice and choose more options like sashimi, which are packed with protein and omega-3. Plus, the ritual of dipping, and balancing each morsel makes you think about each bite you put into your mouth - just remember to opt for reduced sodium soy sauce and limit the amount you use as it is high in salt.

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

As tempting as they are, watch out for those sugary premixes used to make margaritas, piña coladas and yes, even those alcohol-free cocktails, which are often heavy on the sugar. While there are many new drinks on the market claiming to be healthy, keep in mind some can be just as high in sugar and calories as regular soda. Opt for sugar-free options - or better yet, stick to a bottle of sparkling water with a slice of lemon.

If you're a cocktail-lover, chat to your barman about what's going into his recipes. Make it a rule to chase every "real" drink with a glass of water, or top up soda water. Keep in mind that too much alcohol is harmful, and the recommended daily limit is 2 drinks or less for men or 1 drink or less for women.

TACO TUESDAY

Mexican food is fun and comforting, but don't fall into the trap of rewarding yourself with greasy cuisine. You can still enjoy the experience by limiting your portion control, and your cheese and sour cream by requesting them on the side. Rather than a beef burrito bowl, go for the vegetarian bowl and ask for extra beans, lettuce and peppers.

MEATLESS MONDAYS

Eating out on Meatless Mondays will expose you to recipes for plant-based cuisine. Just look out for the option on restaurant menus. Choosing plant-based options regularly is a health booster and it doesn't have to be boring. In food trends, West African flavours and cuisines are becoming more available and are not only distinct in taste and aroma but also tend to include more plant-based options such as egusi soup made from Nigerian melon seeds, black-eyed bean curry from Ghana, and brown jollof rice made with tomatoes, garlic, ginger, peppers and herbs.
Join the Meat Free Monday movement by ordering any vegan or vegetarian dish and receive 15% off every Monday at all Doppio Zero restaurants.