When the meal is over, the food server
brings the check, 14-16.
It usually takes more time and costs
more to eat at full-service restaurants than
at fast-food restaurants or cafeterias. It
takes longer to eat at full-service restau-
rants because most of the foods are not
prepared until they are ordered. However,
because many of the foods are prepared
to order, you can ask that foods be made
a little differently than the menu specifies.
The price is higher in full-service restaurants
because customers receive more service
from restaurant staff than they do in
fast-food restaurants or cafeterias.
Full-service restaurants that are formal
tend to be more expensive than those that
are casual. This is because most formal
restaurants feature high-quality foods and
service. For instance, foods served at
formal restaurants usually are prepared by
highly skilled chefs. In addition, the ingredi-
ents used are often of the freshest, highest
quality. Some diners also tend to tip a bit
more in formal restaurants than they would
in other restaurants.
Fast-food restaurants, cafeterias, and
full-service restaurants aren’t the only
places you might go to eat out. Anytime you
eat somewhere other than at home, you are
eating out. You are eating out when you eat
in your school cafeteria. You also may eat
out at a concession stand at the movies,
at a cookie vendor in the mall, or from a
vending machine.
Eating Healthy When You Are Out
Wherever you go to eat out, keep good
nutrition in mind when selecting the foods
you want to eat. Try to focus on foods from
the major food groups. Also, try to keep
fat and sugar intake down. You can do
this by trading off high-fat and high-sugar
foods with foods lower in fat and sugar. For
instance, bring along a piece of fruit instead
of ordering pie at a fast-food restaurant.
At vending machines, skip the candy and
chips. Instead, try choosing nonfat yogurt,
frozen fruit bars, raisins, pretzels, and
fat-free milk.
Knowing about the foods served in
restaurants will help you get the nutrients
you need and keep calories under control.
More and more restaurants, especially fast-
food and quick-service restaurants, have
websites. Many of the websites let you
check out the ingredients, calories, and
nutrients in their menu items. They may have
charts like the one in 14-17. These charts
help you find the foods that are best for you.
14-16 14-16
At a full-service restaurant, a At a full-service restaurant, a
server presents a check to diners at the end of server presents a check to diners at the end of
the meal. the meal.
280 Adventures in Food and Nutrition
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.