Dining Out On South Beach Diet
Americans spend nearly $440 billion each year eating out at restaurants. But while dining out can be a time-saver and a pleasure, it can also contribute to bad eating habits.
South Beach Diet creator Dr. Arthur Agatston says that with some thought and planning, you can dine out and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Agatston joined The Early Show Friday to discuss his book, "The South Beach Diet Dining Guide," and
Agatston pointed out that "over 60 percent of Americans are overweight," particularly children. "Even though they are overfed, they're not getting fruits, vegetables with all the important vitamin supplements," he told co-anchor Rene Syler. "A lot of attention deficit in kids, and other problems, like asthma, are really nutritional."
Agatston lists specific restaurants in his book, and what dishes are most compatible with healthy eating, and he did the same on the broadcast.
Applebee's
"Shrimp has the omega-3 good fat," Agatston said. "Very low in saturated fat. The cholesterol in shrimp is very overstated. Don't worry about it."
"It's a lean steak and you have vegetables," he said, but "hold the potatoes."
"Hold the rice, maximize the broccoli," Agatston suggests.
Boston Market
"You are getting a lot of veggies, just don't order the cream stuff."
"Lean protein, fits right in," but be sure to take off the skin.
"Soup is filling, just watch what you put in it. This is a chicken-based consommé soup and it fills you up. It makes you less likely to overeat and push away any bread basket."
Chipotle
With those meat dishes, Agatston recommends a guacamole salad: "It's avocado. That's a good fat topping with all the benefits of what you get in the salad and the veggies."
Domino's
"Thin crust, has veggies on the top, green peppers, mushrooms and the tomato sauce has licopene. That's a good nutrient we can all use more," says Agatston, although he suggests limiting each portion to one slice.
McDonald's
"Even the fast food restaurants are giving us better and better choices. So they are responding to the consensus of opinion that we need healthier foods, we need better overall nutrients.
But go easy on the candied walnuts, which are mixed in.
To read an excerpt from "The South Beach Diet Dining Guide," click here.