Have you like a large percentage of this world’s population jumped on the band wagon of the infamous “New Years Diet”? If so, it’s most likely the 15th billion time you have tried it and consequently failed by March. Now that we are through January, how is it going? Are you still gung-ho and trekking along nicely or are you hitting the usual bumps in the road? Aside from the usual bouts of laziness what are you usual obstacles? Is it the usual love for f-o-o-d. From dining out to joining friends for a dinner party, good food is always in the way of achieving “the goal”. There are so many ways it can take a turn for the worst. So Jersey Shore Divas solicited help from Andrea Panaccione, a local dietician to the shore to provide you with some healthy eating tips and guidelines. Andrea Panaccione, owner of Shore Dietitian, LLC, is a wellness and sports dietitian, medical nutrition therapist, consultant, and speaker specializing in weight management, sports nutrition, cardiovascular health, diabetes, and wellness. Shore Dietitian, LLC, is a nutrition counseling and consulting practice at the Jersey Shore. 

So it’s Friday night and off to go out to dinner…The following tips provided by Andrea will help you make better decisions and hopefully create dining in restaurants an enjoyable and healthy experience: 

~ Before going out to eat, try drinking one or two glasses of water or eat a

  piece of fruit to help curb your appetite.

~ Have a salad before the main course. Ask for the salad dressing on the

  side and use it sparingly. 

~ Avoid drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages. Alcohol stimulates the

  appetite and can also reduce a person's willpower. 

~ Ask for water as a beverage, or order unsweetened tea, or other low-calorie drinks without added   sugars.

~ Don't be afraid to ask for your foods to be prepared without high-fat ingredients or sauces. 

~ Order steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of fried or sautéed

  dishes. Stay away from "crispy" or "crunchy" items -- it's a red flag that

  they're fried.

~ Order an appetizer or side dish instead of an entrée to keep portions

  controlled.

~ Stop eating when you are full. Set aside a sensible portion on your plate,

and leave the rest to take home.

 Recommended appetizers:

~ Edamame is a vegetable that contains soy protein; These soybeans are rich in calcium, iron, zinc,   and many of the B vitamins.

~ Side salads containing dark, green leafy vegetables (good sources of vitamins A, C, and K, folate, iron, calcium, and dietary fiber) with balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, or oil/vinegar dressing on the side.

Recommended entrees: 

  ~ Try to choose an entrée containing lean protein, such as chicken, fish, or turkey. Having protein   with your meal will help control your hunger and add satiety to the meal. 

~ By choosing a fish entrée, you will be getting a dose of omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart   Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, herring,   sardines, and tuna) at least two times a week. 

~ Choose whole grain pasta dishes for more fiber and aim for only a tennis ball size serving to help   control calories and blood sugar levels. If you do choose a pasta dish, try a tomato-based dish for   its lycopene content.  Diets high in lycopene have been shown to help reduce the risk of prostate   cancer.

~ As for your dinner plate, fill up half your plate with low calorie, colorful vegetables (preferably   steamed, grilled, or baked) for dietary fiber. 

 ~ Stay away from cream-based soups/entrees, butter, and cheese to help decrease calories and   saturated fat. 

Before going out to eat, identify healthier menu choices using the restaurant’s web site or the site, HealthyDiningFinder.com. Many restaurants provide nutrition information online and on their menus these days (Governor Corzine recently signed a bill before leaving office requiring New Jersey chain restaurants to post calorie counts on their menus and at drive-through windows). Also, talk to the staff, manager, or chef of the restaurants you visit frequently to get their help in identifying items on their menu that are the best options for your dietary needs and preferences.

Many restaurants today are involved with including heart healthy, low-fat and low-calorie entrees that make it easier for you to make healthier choices. Andrea was kind to provide a list of figure friendly and healthy establishments around the shore.

Both of these hip restaurants are owned by local restaurateur Marilyn Schlossbach and offer eclectic dishes, inspired by her travels around the world. Your dish may transplant you to Thailand or even possibly South America, but either way there are a plethora of health choices for you to enjoy.

Langosta Lounge

1000 Ocean Avenue

Asbury Park

(732) 455-3275

Labrador Lounge

3581 Route 35 N

Lavallette

(732) 830-5770

They serve all their sushi with brown rice. With just exchanging brown for white rice, you can pack in over 15 essential nutrients, including B-vitamins, niacin and potassium. It’s a little place which seats only 6 people so it great for takeout. 

60 Monmouth Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701-1614

(732) 530-9688

This place makes vegan and vegetarian eating a fine dining experience. They use 

all organic ingredients, including all their produce, herbs, spices, oils, grains, beans, and beverages.

817 Belmar Plaza

Belmar

(732) 280-1141

This place is relatively new to the shore. They offer a plethora of fruit smoothies, wraps, salads and more. They try to plan the menu options with a well-balanced diet in mind and use only the freshest ingredients. 

2429 Bridge Avenue

Pt Pleasant Boro

(732) 892-0005

Their motto is “Great Food With Your Health In Mind” and the menu options certainly reflect that. 

38 West Front Street

Red Bank  

(732) 530-8888

953 Fischer Boulevard

Toms River

(732) 270-3400‎

You have to love businesses that operate with "Earth Friendly" practices. Not only do they use recycled and/or biodegradable paper, packaging and tableware, they serve only the freshest, all natural products and source these items locally in season. They take a Hawaiian approach to Mexican food and fill their menu with grilled meats and vegetables, black whole beans and brown rice. 

Pier Village

20 Centennial Drive

Long Branch

Everything at 10th Ave Burrito is made from scratch and cooked to order to ensure the freshest, tastiest meal possible. They offer Mexican fare with a bit of a twist. How about a Sautéed Vegetable Burrito or some Grilled Fish Tacos for example?

702 10th. Avenue

Belmar

(732) 280-1515