If you and your family love to eat at restaurants, you may think that this lifestyle is not good for a healthy diet. In many cases, you would be correct. It is, however, quite possible to stick to a healthy diet while occasionally enjoying a restaurant meal. You simply need to learn a little bit about nutrition, which will allow you to make the correct food choices to stay healthy, active, mentally stable and happy.

When you pick up the menu, start by skipping over the drinks section. Although you may be tempted to enjoy a beer or mixed beverage with your dinner, these usually have many empty calories, which is not good for your body. Red wine is an exception to this rule, and may actually help prevent heart disease. Try to have only a single glass.

Also skip over the appetizer menu, unless it's a side salad. Most restaurant appetisers are high-fat foods, which can make you crave more of the same. Examples of these are mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and wings. Instead, simply focus on your main course or, if you must indulge, share a single serving with the entire table of people.

You should carefully check the ingedients in the main dish you select Avoid anything with fatty meats or cream-based sauces, and don't order the onion rings, fries or baked potato. Instead order side dishes like vegetables or ask for just the main course when possible.

Portion size is also important. Order off the lunch menu whenever you can, and ask for a doggie bag right away. To avoid being tempted to eat the whole main course, split it in two and bag one half.

At the end of your meal, skip over the desert menu, just like you did with the appetizers. If you're really tempted, share a dessert with the whole table, or split the portion in half. Many fancy desserts in restaurants have more calories than your entire meal, so keep this in mind before you flag down the waitress to put in an order! On special occasions, you can cheat a little, but you should learn to resist temptation in order to stick to healthy eating.