Eating Out...

Just go enjoy

Go for delicious fish with a salsa verde. Not all Italian food has to be pizza and pasta (almost universally terrible on the calorie front) and you are likely to find some good fish on most Italian menus. Don't be fooled by the likes of melanzane alla parmigiana....ok, so it's veg, but the parmesan and mozarella is a killer and the aubergine (eggplant) soaks up oil like nothing else (which is delicious, I know). Also, if you are a wine drinker....keep it to one glass if you can! I find 2 sniffs for every one gulp generally lasts me through the meal as it means I can still pick up my glass naturally throughout the meal while only drinking 1/3 the amount I would usually.....along with lots of water.

As to the post which just replies to your question: "Enjoy"....I totally agree. At the same time, I admire you trying to control your eating while dining out. I dine out a lot - it is part of my social life and if I just said "hey, enjoy...I deserve it...everybody needs a break sometimes...I deserve a night off" then I may as well kiss goodbye to all the hard work I put into dieting for the previous week. It's readily saying "Enjoy" that got us into a state where we need MFP, right? We will have time for days off during maintenance stage....

Well done for planning ahead so you can still enjoy a night out without ruining your hard work up until now....you deserve credit.

Typical Italian restaurants have menu offerings that range from delectable pasta dishes to deep-dish or thin-crust pizzas. As tasty as they might be, it can sometimes be challenging when you are trying to make healthier food choices to better manage your weight or particular health condition. However, it is not impossible to select foods from Italian restaurants that are lower in calories and better for your overall health.

Pasta
Pasta dishes are one of the most popular choices at Italian restaurants, but selection of the right pasta dish is key to a low-calorie and healthy meal, and it all starts with the sauce. Pasta sauces that are marinara, or tomato-based, or marsala sauces that are made from wine are going to be much lower in calories and fat than creamy white sauces that are made out of high-fat milk, and butter and cheese, such as alfredo sauce. Additionally, marinara or marinara sauces that are vegetarian are going to be much lower in fat and cholesterol than those that contain fatty meats like Italian sausage, pepperoni or ground beef. You should also avoid dishes that are filled with meat or cheese, such as lasagna, manicotti and tortellini, because the meat and cheeses are loaded full of fat and unnecessary calories. Lastly, if whole wheat pasta is an option, this should be substituted for regular pasta because it is higher in fiber and will make you feel fuller, faster and may help you manage your portion control.

Pizza
Another popular item at most Italian restaurants is the pizza. Because pizza is almost always loaded with cheese, it's rarely a low-calorie option. However, there are ways to improve upon the traditional offerings. A lot of the calories in pizza come from the crust, so thicker crusts are going to have more calories. Thin-crust pizzas are better choices than deeper-dish crusts. Additionally, pizzas that are loaded with meats like sausage, ham and pepperoni are going to be loaded with extra fat and calories. Replace the meats with roasted or raw vegetables for a lower-calorie option. When available, whole-wheat crust is another option that will provide for a healthier pizza meal.

Soups
Italian restaurants usually offer a number of savory soups either as side dishes or even main dishes. Some soups that contain beef and sausage and are based around meat broths, like Italian wedding soup and Italian sausage soup are going to be higher-calorie options. Some creamy soups that are made with cheeses like gorgonzola or Parmesan are also higher in calories. For lower-calorie soups, you should try vegetarian and vegetable-broth soups like minestrone or eggplant and mushroom soup.

Going out for a meal tonight and thought I'd ask... what would be the healthiest option at an Italians?!

I know they all cook differently but just a general idea!

I have just over 1000 calories left for today after my run so hopefully won't go over too much :ohwell:

Tough, Italian food is not very calorie friendly. Stick to lean cuts of meat, avoid bread and olive oil if possible. You can probably get some pasta, but not a ton for 1000 calories.

A lot of times it's all about the portion size. Most of these dishes will fit quite nicely into a 1000 calorie allotment, with room for a glass or two of wine. Cut the portion in half, and for some restaurants, in half again and take that stuff home with you.

1000 calories is plenty for some yummy Italian, even with alfredo sauce, if you are careful with your portions. Pastas will run around 200 calories for one cup, which is plenty if you are having meat with it too.