Being in college and trying to live a healthier lifestyle can be a total pain because, let’s face it, healthier food is super expensive. Here are some tips I’ve come up with while trying to eat healthier when dining out and avoiding breaking my bank in the process: 

1. When you’re looking at the menu, keep an eye out for foods described as “grilled”, “broiled” or “steamed.” Try to avoid the foods that are “fried”, “sautéed” or “breaded.”

2. When ordering a sandwich, pay attention to the bread it’ll come out on. Order whole-wheat if possible. 

3. Downsize your portion in one of three ways: ordering off the kid’s menu, splitting a dish with a dining partner or ordering a half-order of a dish, if possible. 

4. This one is pretty obvious, but look to eat the healthy side options, like opting for a side salad or vegetables if offered. If your restaurant doesn’t offer healthier options, try asking if you could avoid the side dish and get some money shaved off your bill. It might not work, but it could be worth a shot to save some money and avoid the fries. 

5. Trim down your condiments and dressings to avoid extra calories. Try getting your salad dressing on the side so you can add it as you please, ditch the ketchup with your fries or lay off on the butter for your roll. This goes along with avoiding dishes that come with gravy or creamy sauces. 

6. If you tend to follow the crowd, try ordering your meal before everyone else. If you hear all your friends are ordering steaks, you might end up giving up your plan of tearing into that salmon. 

7. It seems that the fancier the restaurant you go to, the less food you get, which is good when you are a plate-cleaner. Bad news is that most college kids want the cheaper options when dining out. With this in mind, also think that many places give you enough food for two, so pack up that extra meal in a take-home box. 

8. Pay attention to your meats because, though they can seem much the same, they can vary a lot calorie-wise. For example, opt out of the rib-eye and choose filet mignon or a flank. Also try to choose a skinless chicken breast-based dish instead of one with a skin-on breast or other chicken pieces, like a thigh.