Maxeen: I’m retired, house is paid off, and I don’t travel so my husband and I enjoy eating out two or three times per week (maybe more). But everyone tells me we shouldn’t eat out so much for health reasons. What’s wrong with eating out if I’m choosing healthier options? 

Megan: Because you are not preparing the foods yourself, you don’t know all the ingredients in them and what they’re being cooked with. That means the oils and seasonings that pack on calories, sodium, sugars, and fats. Portions are typically much bigger than just the single serving you should be having, so overeating is likely to happen. You also have to watch the beverages you have and any appetizers. Staying on a healthy eating plan this way is harder than if you meal prepped at home and knew everything about everything you are having (or as much as possible). Even if you order healthy options, you don’t always know that what is in them is in fact, ‘healthy”. 

If you have a question for Dr. FIT, email her at everybodysfit@gmail.com and be sure to check out her website www.everybodysfitoceanside.com