Eating out guide

Whether it’s for a special celebration or a quick pit-stop after work, these tips will help you feel comfortable in any restaurant. Enjoy!

If you want to order your favourite pasta or steak dish, stick to foods with lower SmartPoints values earlier in the day.

Find the ZeroPoint foods and build a tasty and nutritious meal from there. Order first so you won’t be swayed by what others order.

They give you more flexibility. Try to track the best you can – estimating is A-OK! (Tracking before you go helps you stick to your Budget.)

Smothered, rich, au gratin, glazed and creamy usually indicate higher SmartPoints values. Flame-grilled, poached, smoked, baked and grilled tend to be lower in SmartPoints values.

Ask to swap chips for a salad with your main course or vegetables with balsamic vinegar instead of in butter. (Unless, of course, you want them – in which case, track and enjoy!)

There’s no prize for finishing your food. Stop when you’re satisfied, not when you’re stuffed (ask for a container for leftovers). Put your napkin on your plate to signal you’re finished.

Creamy dressings, croutons, bacon, avocado, nuts and seeds are flavoursome but high in SmartPoints; a little goes a long way. Ask for them on the side so you can add as little or as much as you want.

That’s most important! If you want it, and it’s worth it to you, get it and love every bite! And if you go over, it’s OK. It’s what you do next that matters most.

WW gives you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy all the foods you love. Which would you choose?

• Think of speciality coffee drinks as dessert. Those fancy flavoured, cream-topped drinks can cost you more SmartPoints than a slice of cake!

• Skip sugar – go for a sweetener instead, if you need it. Go without if you like it all the same.

• Choose skim-milk options.

• Tandoori dishes are often a healthier choice as they are grilled not fried.

• Don’t skip past the vegetarian options– they can be a lower SmartPoints choice.

• Go hot and spicy – vindaloo or madras if you can handle it – you’ll find it harder to over-eat.

• Salads are a good choice as they are usually full of ZeroPoint foods. Ask for the dressing on the side that way you are in control of how much of it you eat.

• The extensive range of pasta on the menu at some restaurants can be mind-boggling. Try to opt for tomato or vegetable-based dishes (Arrabiata, Marinara, Napoletana) rather than creamy or cheesy dishes (Carbonara, Alfredo, Boscaiola).

• Many restaurants now offer two sizes of pasta – the entrée portion is often more than enough for a main course.

• Use chopsticks – they can help you take smaller bites and slow down your pace of eating, especially if you’re not experienced.

• Avoid foods that are described as crispy – they are likely to be deep-fried.

• Portion sizes can be large, so consider sharing dishes – it is part of the culture.

• Scan the menu closely and look for options that won’t blow your SmartPoints Budget. ZeroPoint foods are a good place to start.

• Try an entrée size and see how you feel before ordering more food.

• Instead of snacking on chips and peanuts, fill up on a delicious wholesome salad instead.