So you’re dieting and you’re not really sure what to do. Your friends invited you out to dinner and you don’t want to disappoint but you’re not sure what you’ll eat. How do you count calories when you’re at a restaurant? To start, let’s not focus on counting calories. You’re allowed to cheat but that doesn’t mean you need to choose the greasiest thing on the menu. There are a few tricks to help you watch your consumption even when you’re out on the town. Talk to your server. Let her know about your dietary interests. Often restaurants have vegetarian or low fat options listed on the menu to keep it simple and easy for you to stick to whatever diet you’d like. You should avoid ordering extra calories. Do you need the appetizer or cocktail? You can ask for oils, butters, dressings and the like on the side. This puts you in control of your portions. You can also choose to have your food baked or boiled instead of fried. This will greatly increase the nutrients and decrease the fat content. Then there is always desert. Choose fresh fruit deserts or lighter angel food cakes instead of focusing on the high fat chocolate options. With some strength you can head to the restaurant with your friends and keep to your diet. If you cheat a little, I promise we’re not looking.