1. Say Arrivederci to the Free Bread
One reason why it's recommended never to go hungry to an Italian restaurant is that you're able to overeat even before you finish reading over the menu. While serving Italian bread and bread sticks prior to a meal is a generous gesture by the management, do yourself-and your waistline-a favor; ask the waiter to take the bread and butter away. You'll appreciate your meal, as well as your wardrobe, even more if you do.
2. Wine is Fine
If you enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages, one or two glasses of wine make for pleasant accompaniments to your Italian meal. Four is just too much. Studies indicate that drinking alcohol in moderation-that's one glass for a woman or two glasses for a man-daily may help your heart by increasing levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol and may even make your blood less likely to clot, reducing the risk of heart attacks and ischemic strokes.
3. Mamma Mia! Those are some Mighty Large Portions
Portions tend to be vastly distorted at most Italian restaurants. As a matter of fact, a typical Italian pasta dish is enough to feed two or even three people. With this in mind, it may be best to collaborate with your dining partner, or in some cases partners, and split a dish. Alternatively, you may plan to take half of your meal home with you. Think of it this way; you'll be getting two meals for the price of one.
4. Kick Salad Dressings and Sauces to the Curb
Well, at least keep them off to the side of your plate so that you can pour them on at your discretion. Remember that you can always add more, but you canât take away when it comes to those rich sauces and dressings. While ordering a Caesars salad off of the menu may seem like a dieterâs delight, this is one salad that is not so healthy for you. A Caesars salad may contain anywhere from 24 to 47 grams of fat and 350 to 700 calories. Ouch. While perusing through the menu, consider skipping items with the following descriptors: alfredo, creamy, pesto, oil, pink sauce, butter and fried; all of which are code names for fat.
5. Buon Appetite
Minestrone soup or a mesclun salad with oil and vinegar on the side are best bets for your appetizer. Keep in mind that even though olive oil contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, one tablespoon provides 13 grams of fat and about 120 calories, so use it sparingly. As for your main dish, select pastas such as linguine, spaghetti, fettuccini, macaroni, rigatoni, and penne and top them with one of the following sauces: clam (red or white), marinara, primavera or wine. To round out your meal, ask your waiter to add some grilled chicken or fish and some sliced vegetables. Remember to eat only half or less of your meal if itâs oversized.
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