Making Italian food healthier

Finding healthy Italian food is easier if you know what to look for. However, an actual portion size may be much less than what the restaurant or Catering actually serves. Adding extras, such as Parmesan cheese, will affect your total numbers.

o Main dishes: Go for meatless marinara or a clam sauce. Avoid creamy sauces like Alfredo. If you have meatballs, ask for tomato sauce instead of meat sauce. Watch out for the amount of oil and butter in a dish, and skip cheese toppings.

o Olive Garden: One of the most popular Italian restaurants in the country, but it can be difficult to get the exact nutrition information. Take advantage of the unlimited salad; just ask for half the dressing. Again, go for grilled dishes over fried and avoid the cheese and butter sauces.

o Appetizers: Garlic bread is one of the big problems when trying to order healthy Italian food. Order plain bread instead, skip the fried calamari, and share appetizers with the entire table.