Order Healthy at Italian Restaurants: Tips & Tricks, Smart Menu Picks
How to Eat Healthy at an Italian Restaurant
Start with a side salad or broth-based soup. When they ask, “soup or salad?”, both options have potential. Broth-based soup before a meal can mean lower calorie intake overall, and minestrone is a great choice. For the salad, ask for light dressing on the side or a drizzle of vinegar & olive oil.
Don't eat bread AND pasta at the same meal. Legitimately, that's a traditional Italian no-no. (Not to be confused with a traditional Italian nonno.) Select your carb wisely, and moderate your portion.
Lean protein = the centerpiece of your meal. We’re not saying you can’t have any pasta, but use this concept as a cue regarding the ratios you’re shooting for overall. Look for chicken, seafood, or a lean cut of steak, ideally broiled, baked, or grilled. Steer clear of breaded and fried menu items. (Don’t worry: You can have chicken Parm at home.)
Make smart sauce selections. Italian food is often very sauce-forward. Tomato-based sauces are great, but be mindful about versions with ground meat mixed in. Wine- & broth-based sauces are also decent ways to go, but be careful with the creamy, cheesy options.
Save some for later. Many Italian eateries serve up massive portions, so before you even start eating, identify how much you want to eat vs. what you want to save. Maybe even section off that amount before you dig in!
Want a glass of wine? A typical pour (about 6 oz.) has around 150 calories. Not bad!
Dessert isn’t a dealbreaker. If the end of the meal comes and you’re longing for something sweet, keep it simple. A scoop of sorbet, some fresh berries (maybe with a little cream), or biscotti with a cup of coffee are great ways to end a nice dinner out. Buona notte! (That means good night!)
Make Restaurant Recipe Dupes at Home!
Hungry Girl Magazine: Healthy & Easy Copycat Recipes
There are still copies available of our latest issue of Hungry Girl magazine, full of our best calorie-slashed versions of restaurant favorites. In there, you’ll find a whole chapter of Italian-inspired recipes, including:⭑ a lower-fat version of Olive Garden’s Tuscan-style soup
⭑ an easy eggplant Parm recipe, no frying required
⭑ better-for-you shrimp scampi over veggie noodles
… plus, more Italian recipe makeovers + restaurant swaps!
Ordering from Canada? Click here! US orders arrive in 2–4 weeks. Canadian orders arrive in 6–12 weeks. Also available digitally on your NOOK and from Zinio.
Chew on this:
Today, March 20th, is Lima Bean Respect Day. A cup of cooked lima beans has a respectable 11g fiber and 12g protein—pick up canned beans, or stock up on these highly rated dried limas!
Help your friends order healthy at Italian restaurants, even when you’re not with them!
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