The reality is, more meals are eaten outside the home than ever.

Eating at a restaurant doesn’t have to sabotage yourhealthy dietfor PCOS.

Use these smart eating strategies to do it right.

A woman eating a salad at the table, overhead view

Leo Patrizi / Getty Images

There are several strategies to help you out if you tend to overindulge on bread before your meal.

Perhaps have a satisfying salad or soup before your meal arrives.

Of course, avoiding going to the restaurant starving from the get-go will help.

If you are very hungry, you will want more than just one slice.

Be Prepared

The Girl Scout motto applies to eat out too.

Many restaurants post their menus online.

Think about what you would like to have with the plate method in mind.

Order them as a side dish or in place of chips or fries.

Some restaurants will happily allow you to substitute a salad for fries.

Read Between the Lines

Restaurants have cleaver food descriptions for their entrees.

Items described as baked, grilled, steamed, roasted or broiled tend to have fewer calories.

If you dont want your vegetables covered in butter and salt, let them know.

Want your fish grilled, not fried, speak up.

If youd like an alcoholic drink with your meal, stick with red wine.

Other non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy include unsweetened hot or iced tea, coffee, seltzer or good old water.

Be Mindful

Enjoy your meal.

Check-in with yourself when you first sit down.

Do some deep breathing.

Do this again in the middle of your meal.

Practice recognizing when you are getting satisfied and stop eating.

Our bodies do know how much food we need, we just have to listen to it.

Eating slowly will help you enjoy each delicious bite.

Wrap It Up

When satisfied, ask that your food be removed or wrapped up.

Place your utensils down on your plate to signal to yourself and your server that you are done eating.

You dont have to finish everything on your plate.

Know that it’s possible for you to enjoy the meal again soon at another time.

Avoid Saboteurs

Do you have a friend orpartnerwho sabotages your healthy eating habits?

Maybe he or she encourages you to order a not-so-healthy entree, appetizer, or dessert?

Have a game plan ahead of time to handle this.

Dessert Dilemma

Would you like to see the dessert menu?

Who doesnt enjoy dessert?

Women with PCOS can enjoy decadent desserts.

The key is to eat it mindfully, using the tips above for during the meal.

The same rules apply to dessert.

Really taste and enjoy each bite mindfully.

Are you noticing that you are getting too full?

Thats a signal that its time to stop.

Consider sharing a dessert if you only want a taste or two.

Sometimes just a few bites will do the trick to finish off a delicious meal.