Healthy dishes for ladies who lunch

Next time someone asks you out for dinner or lunch in a lovely new restaurant, chances are you'll delightedly accept. Who wouldn't when there are so many fantastic restaurants across Manchester & Cheshire now? Sure as you like, once the invitation has been joyfully accepted, you're likely to start guiltily contemplating your decision "What about my diet? I'll never lose weight if I keep eating out!"

So, what's a Busy Girl to do? We can't possibly keep turning down the kind invitations - what we really need are some healthy tips for ladies who lunch...

Stay-slim tips for Busy Girls with hips

1. Drink a pint of water before you head out - it'll fill you up, so you eat less

2. Step away from the bread! Each slice contains a whopping 75 calories!

3. Your mum's not watching! Don't feel you have to eat everything - wait until you're comfortably full rather than bursting at the seams.

Ok, so how to put this knowledge into practice? Surely some cuisines are better than others? Have a look at our multinational cuisine guide to staying slim & trim:

Italian
Manchester - Carluccios, Trafford Centre
Cheshire - La Taverna, Lower Bridge Street

Mediterranean diets are generally regarded to be healthy, with lots of olive oil & pasta, but it's the toppings that count! Choose pizza with vegetables, ham, fish & prawns & try not to add extra Parmesan or oil.
Healthy choice: vegetable lasagne, tricolore salad, bruschetta, pasta pomodoro
Weighty choice: spaghetti carbonara, garlic bread, four-cheese pizza

Indian
Manchester - EastzEast, Ibis Hotel, Princess Street
Cheshire - The Village Indian, Tarporley

Curries are well known to be packed with calories as they tend to come with rich, creamy sauces & pappadums & naan breads, so try to stick to a dish which doesn't come layered in a creamy sauce.
Healthy choice: tandoori or Madras with chicken, prawns or vegetables, chicken tikka, biryani
Weighty choice: korma, passanda, massala

Chinese
Manchester - Wings, Lincoln Square, Manchester
Cheshire - Man Zen, Knutsford
Like curries, Chinese meals can pack a calorific punch, as many dishes contain battered food & lots of oil. However, if you go to a good restaurant, you'll be surprised at how light you feel after a good meal. Sushi & sashimi are obvious options for a really high protein & healthy dish. Try to stay away from the calorific rice & choose another vegetable side order instead.
Healthy choice: steamed fish, chicken chop suey, Szechuan prawns, sushi, sashimi tuna
Weighty choice: prawn crackers, dim sum, spring rolls

Thai
Manchester - Pacific Restaurant, George St, Manchester
Cheshire - Chilli Banana, Wilmslow
Thai food is challenging for weight watchers, with many dishes including coconut-based sauces & fried food. However, some of the soup based dishes (Ramen) can be high in protein & lower in fats - they can be quite salty though so please don’t season them!
Healthy choice: chicken satay (but go easy on the peanut sauce), vegetable or fish-based soups & noodles, gang pa or jungle curry
Bad choice: green or red curries (which contain coconut milk, high in saturated fat), tempura, panang & mussumun curries.

Too Busy to eat breakfast? Try our Fantastic Smoothie Recipes for a quick, healthy, hassle free alternative to boring toast!