The appetizer trick

grilled squid over orzo

Last night I got my fish fix at a famous Boston-based seafood restaurant – one that brings back warm memories of meals shared with visiting family when I lived here for graduate school. In fact, all warm memories I have from Boston are of me being indoors in some capacity. This is a magnificent town, but chilly already!

Anyway, the menu at the restaurant was filled with too many delicious options, and I’m not particularly decisive, so I implemented a trick I often use in this situation. I decided to pick only from the appetizer menu – it helps me make a decision and ensures that decision will be a reasonably sized one.When eating out on the road, there isn’t a place to put leftovers, so appetizer portions – in this case, grilled calamari over orzo pasta – are perfect.

For more out to eat tips and tricks, watch cookbook author, Nina Simonds and Nutrition professor at Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Eric Rimm as they navigate the very same seafood restaurant menu. The video is one in a series called, “Pyramid on a Plate” – a fun idea that shows how to make healthy choices at a variety of restaurants.