Unfortunately, we can’t be #bringinitbackhome all of the time. Sometimes it’s just necessary to go out. While home cooked meals are delicious and often healthier, every now and then we all find ourselves in a restaurant. Usually, we’re not complaining ;-)

I went to my favorite hometown restaurant a few nights ago, the kind of place where I always sit at the same table and order the same meal. While parking my car, I looked over and saw my brand new bottle of Tessemae's Soy Ginger on my passenger seat and was overcome with an urge to sneak it inside. I won’t admit to anything, but I’ve got to say, unfortunately it’s not always socially acceptable to BYOD (Bring your own dressing, duh!). That’s why I wanted to share some quick tips for making healthy choices when you’re out and about, cause hey, we all deserve a break from cooking every now and then, but we still want to enjoy a healthy and delicious meal.

Drinks: Water and unsweetened tea are always great choices when it comes to beverage selections. Keep in mind that we often experience hunger when we’re really just thirsty. So make sure to drink up before you go ordering a five-course meal!

Appetizers: Start with a salad, steamed veggies, or vegetable based soup. I think we all know the feeling of filling up on apps and bread basket offerings, then realizing we are not even hungry anymore by the time dinner arrives. These healthy starters will take the edge off, while still allowing you to enjoy your entrée.

Main Course: Restaurants are sneaky, and like to make things taste as delicious as possible. This is usually at the expense of our health. Keep this in mind when ordering, and remember that sometimes dishes that appear healthy are very misleading. Stick to steamed, broiled, or grilled entrees, as opposed to fried or sautéed.

For Dessert: Choose fruit! Or hot tea with a little bit of honey.

Portions: Pay attention to your body! Restaurants often serve you super sized meals that are two or three portions. Try sharing an entrée with a friend, ordering off of the appetizer menu, or get your money’s worth and take your leftovers home for lunch the next day.

Last but not least: Almost all restaurants offer olive oil and vinegar as a salad dressing option. We know you’ll miss your favorite Tessemae’s dressing when your out (we sure do) but don’t worry. It will be waiting patiently for you to come home.