One of the major obstacles when trying to be healthier is changing your lifestyle to create time to learn new habits. Batch cooking, strategic grocery shopping, cooking with ingredients you've never used before, using new tools or skills, and getting your tastebuds to acclimate back to their natural affinity for clean, fresh food. Until then, how can you improve what you're already doing? Many people are eating out most of the day. Usually at least for breakfast and lunch and in a lot of cases dinner too. By eating out I mean any food you didn't make yourself. A lot of people are ordering out and eating at home for dinner. I still qualify that as eating out. When it comes to your health, it doesn't matter where you're sitting, the excess amounts of processed fat, sugar, salt and flour that are used in a lot of restaurant cooking is staggering. And if you're eating out all the time, your eyes and taste buds may have a warped sense of the necessary amount of fat, sugar, salt and flour that's necessary to make a tasty meal. Here are some easy adjustments you can make:

1. Ask if they have a lunch or half portion.
2. If they don't, eat half and save the rest for dinner or lunch tomorrow.
3. If you're eating at a buffet, usually the food you're ordering is sitting in a basin of "gravy", "sauce" or "juice". Say "no" when they ask to pour extra on your food.
4. Ordering from a menu? Look at the sides section first. There's usually vegetables or healthier choices offered as sides. They're also smaller portions. Think of it like a bento box and just order a few sides with a salad.

I'd love to hear from you. Please comment below and let me know: Will any of these tips help you eat out healthier? If not, what is your struggle?