If you think you’re doing yourself a favor by ordering a lighter fare, you may be surprised to learn you’re not. That’s because when you are under the impression you chose the better option, you tend to let up on restraint. In fact, consumers tend to choose beverages, side dishes, and desserts that contain up to 131 percent more calories when they ordered a “healthy” main dish, according to a study from the Journal of Consumer Research. A separate Babson College study even found that the mere presence of healthy meals on a menu can actually cause people to select a less nutritious meal. Experts believe that people end up splurging because they take the fact that they count the consideration of ordering a healthy item as being virtuous, so it leads them to make poor food choices down the line. Plus, not all lighter fare dishes are as healthy as they sound.
Eat This! Tip:
To keep your slim-down plans in line, take a peek at the restaurant’s menu options in advance. Many chains have nutritional facts readily available, knowing what you take in will rid off any guilty feelings later as long as you stick to your plan. If you’re considering ordering lunch, placing an order ahead of when you’ll start to feel hungry can also help you cut down on calories, according to research published in the Journal of Marketing Research.
