Cooking is fun and worthwhile, but let’s be real.  We’re New Yorkers and we eat out.  A lot.

Whether at a classy sit-down restaurant or on Seamless and GrubHub, many people want to make healthier choices without giving up
the good things in life.

*Talk to the humans* – restaurant menus can be confusing, as they list just
a few of the many ingredients in a dish.  To figure out what’s really in an
entrée, ask your server before you order it.  I know the reason we all love
online ordering because we think we no longer need to talk to a person.
(And as someone with many food allergies, I feel your pain.  Try explaining a long list of severe allergies to a restaurant employee who is nice but doesn’t speak much English!  Vs. being able to type it into an
online order they can clearly read.) But picking up the phone *before*
ordering on Seamless is a great idea.  Many restaurants are very
accommodating if you’d like less salt and oil, brown rice instead of white,
or extra veggies.  But they can’t help if you don’t ask!  Often
allergy-friendly options are also available, but not listed on the online
menu.  Ask, ask, ask.

*Explore organics* – it’s not just for health food stores anymore.  Local
restaurants as well as chains like Le Pain Quotidien now have many organic
options.  Organic fruits and vegetables aren’t sprayed with as many harmful
chemicals, making them better for you, the planet, and the farm workers
(who’re exposed to much higher levels of toxins than the consumers who
eventually eat the food).

*Amp up the veggies* – if you love steak and burgers, expand your horizons
by checking out a vegetarian restaurant once a week or once a month.
Trendy yet affordable restaurants like Beyond Sushi and By Chloe report
that most of their customers are not vegetarian, but just eat there because
the food tastes awesome.  Upscale restaurants like Nix, HanGawi, and Candle
79 also make veggies the start of the show.