Q: As a busy family, we often order dinner from restaurants. Is there any way to make takeout healthier?

A: Make takeout lighter and leaner by adding quick things from home
like a bag of prewashed salad greens or microwavable frozen or canned
vegetables, suggests Linda Spangle, RN, a weight-loss coach in
Broomfield, CO, and author of 100 Days of Weight Loss. Many restaurants
serve up huge portions, so order one entree to split between two or
three people. Another trick: Call in your order midafternoon instead of
after work, when you're tired, stressed, starving and more likely to
make unhealthy choices. Some other tips to keep in mind the next time
you order from your favorite restaurant:

Chinese
Pick Steamed or stir-fried dishes cooked with little to no oil (many
places will do this if you ask). Serve with a slotted spoon to drain
sauce. Best bets: chicken, tofu or shrimp, steamed with the sauce on
the side; hot-and-sour or wonton soup (often low-fat); fiber-rich
steamed brown rice.
Skip Deep-fried and/or sauce-coated items like egg rolls, General Tsao's chicken, sesame chicken or sweet-and-sour beef.

Japanese
Pick Sushi, which is low in fat and calories (if you want to avoid raw
fish, choose California or veggie rolls instead); chicken or salmon
teriyaki; steamed (not fried) dumplings; edamame; broth-based soups
like miso; salads with vinegar dressing.
Skip Sushi made with mayo, such as Boston rolls; deep-fried tempura dishes, which are high in fat.

Italian
Pick Pasta with a tomato-based sauce; grilled (not fried) eggplant or
chicken Parmesan; pizza topped with vegetables or barbecued chicken.
Skip Cream-based sauces like Alfredo; fried zucchini or calamari; pepperoni or meatball pizza.

Mexican
Pick Soft-shell tacos; salsa; fajitas and burritos with no more than
one or two toppings like sour cream, cheese and guacamole—or sub
low-fat sour cream and shredded cheese at home.
Skip Refried beans;
fried taco shells.

Supermarket ready-made meals
Pick Rotisserie or grilled chicken with skin removed; grilled or
steamed salmon and veggies; salad (minus croutons, cheese and bacon);
fruit.
Skip Fried chicken; barbecued spareribs; side dishes like fries or onion rings.