How to Find Food Nutrition Facts at a Restaurant

Usually, you avoid eating at restaurants while trying to lose weight. Let’s admit it, most restaurant nutrition isn’t conducive to losing weight and the variety of options are extremely tempting. However, you can make good food choices while eating out. Don’t hesitate to ask your server or a manager for the food nutrition facts if you don’t see them on the table. When you have the food nutrition facts you can make decisions that stay within your particular eating plan and still enjoy a meal out.

What Do You Look For?

If you do request food nutrition facts at a restaurant you will be given a paper or card that shows the calorie, fat, and carbohydrate contents for various menu items, as well as other information. If you're trying to eat low fat, you will see right away which foods you should eat and which ones you shouldn't. Keep in mind that condiments and sauces can add calories, fat, sodium and even carbs to any menu item. If a salad looks fattening on the food nutrition facts, it probably includes a high fat dressing which you do not have to order.

If They Don't Have Nutrition Facts

If you happen to be out at a restaurant and you ask for food nutrition facts, but they don't have any available, you should still be able to make good food choices based on your knowledge of basic nutrition. For example, your best choice while trying to lose weight is not going to be a double bacon cheeseburger. A smart option might include a grilled chicken sandwich with a small salad or baked potato without sour cream.

Most large restaurant chains do have food nutrition facts. If they are not in the open, you will just have to request a copy. The reason you have to request them is that many restaurant owners believe that if the food nutrition facts are placed on the menus next to the food items, some people would be dissuaded from eating the ones with the most fat or calorie content. If they don't know how much fat is in a food item, they're more likely to order it.