Know Your Menu Watch Words

There are a few words that easily slip your mind when ordering food that could be keeping you from making a health choice.

When you go out to eat, just go prepared. Know which words to look for and which to avoid. Below is a quick list of "safe" Green Flag and "Warning!" Red Flag options that even young children can understand. Challenge your kids to see how many "Red Flags" and "Green Flags" foods they can find, and let them choose their own meal out of "Green Flag" options.

The watch words below are a guide. Still, food items can be very healthy or unhealthy regardless of the use of any of these words. There are times when thee words are used to mislead you. So use this along with your good judgment to steer clear of the bad stuff. More often than not, you'll end up making a smart decision.

Green Flag:
Steamed
Reduced
Baked
Marinated
Seasoned
Fat Free
Whole Wheat
Multi-grain
Vegetarian
Light
High Fiber
Fresh
Red Sauce
Vinaigrette

Red Flag:
Breaded
Fried/ Deep Fried
Creamed/Creamy
White Sauce
Crispy
Cheesy
Buttery
Loaded
Bottomless
Au Gratin
Country-Style
Volcano

By keeping these things in mind will help you make healthier choices!