On this Motivation Monday, I thought I’d address one of the questions I’m asked nearly a half-dozen times each week:

 How can you go out to dinner and not fall off the healthy-lifestyle wagon?

Whether you face multiple business dinners or date nights during the week, you don’t have to abandon all your healthy habits just because you leave the safety of your own kitchen! Here are five tricks that help me stay on track:

• Skip the fried stuff: Select fish, poultry or lean meats that are broiled, grilled, baked or steamed. Save the fried dishes (and share them!) as a “treat” when you’re out for a World-Series-watching night out!
• Don’t be shy: It’s okay to ask for foods that fit into your eating plans. Ask the waiter to hold the bread basket. Request dressings or sauces on the side. While you’re at it, go ahead and ask for a double order of vegetables in place of French fries or other starch.
• Spice things up: Speaking of veggies, opt for side dishes that are seasoned with herbs or spices rather than butter, sour cream or cheese. Or get those thicker sauces on the side and use sparingly.
• Splurge on sharing: Who says you can only split dessert? Consider having a hearty salad for an appetizer and then split an entrée, too. If no one wants to share, ask to take half of your portion home.   
• Limit the libations: My repeat readers know I’m a huge fan of the every-other-drink plan. Have a cocktail or glass of wine, then order a seltzer with lemon or diet soda for your next round. Perhaps by the time you’ve finished those two drinks, you won’t want another cocktail. If you do, you’re only on round two of the libations instead of three. Want to skip the booze altogether but still have something fun to sip on? Have seltzer with a splash of cranberry or orange juice. Keeping sugary juices to a splash can save a bunch of calories.

With the holidays creeping closer every day, developing a few healthy eating-out habits now can only help make the season more manageable. Consider this week a time to start “training” so you can wrap up the last few months of 2015 on track with those plans to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!