Point of View

It is a rainy Wednesday evening and that means a longer drive from my job at GuideStone Financial Resources in uptown Dallas to my home in South Arlington during rush-hour traffic. There won't be enough time to eat a healthful dinner (because I don't do "fast-food") before driving to my church in Fort Worth, Texas.

The thought of not being able to eat doesn't sit well with me because I love the taste of food. Thinking about food reminded me of how often I eat out. It's daily! Most people, doctors and even nutritionists, say that eating out on a regular basis discourages healthy eating habits but I think that is old school. For those of us who travel on a regular basis or have gotten to that stage in life where we just don't want to cook at home anymore, eating out is a way of life. I always try to find the positive and believe if you can learn to eat healthfully when you eat out, you will make changes that will last a lifetime. Plus, you will be ahead of those who eat healthfully at home but fall completely off the wagon when they venture out.

Healthful eating is possible at almost any restaurant. All of the restaurants I frequent will cater to the specific dietary needs or desires of the customer. It's just good business! I try to look for restaurants that provide nutrition information on the menu. That makes it easier to be sure I'm getting what I think I am. But when I don't have that option, I still try to make healthier choices.

Instead of french fries, I order grilled vegetables, a salad or a baked potato. But I'm careful about adding a lot of salad dressing, sauce or butter than can make the fat content of my veggies as high as the fries. And I avoid fried foods altogether and opt for baked, broiled or grilled.

Probably the most important thing I do when I eat out is control my portions. If I can't order something small or share with a friend, I just ask for a "doggie bag" with my meal. That way I don't get too full, and I have a nice lunch to carry to work another day.

Life is all about choices and we must make them every moment of the day. We cannot have "life . . . more abundantly" (John 10:10), as Christ came to give us if we choose an unhealthy lifestyle.

Tamara Quintana is the director of the employee wellness program for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.