We would all like to sit down to a home cooked meal everyday. But this is close to impossible in this fast-paced world, where we all need to work to make ends meet. One easy and affordable solution to make sure you always have ready food on the table is to resort to takeaways.

Takeaways can provide fast and inexpensive food so you don’t have to stress about cooking a full meal after a hard day’s work. You have to take into consideration, though, that not all takeaway meals are healthy. Some are loaded with saturated fat and salt, whilst others don’t have any vitamins, mineral or fiber. You can, however, still keep your family healthy even when ordering at takeaways. All you have to do is keep the following tips in mind when ordering takeaway food.

1. Keep things plain and simple. The healthiest takeaway foods are those that aren’t loaded with extra sauces or toppings. When ordering hamburgers, for instance, choose one without mayo and without cheese. You should pick plain burgers with lettuce and tomatoes as toppings instead. When going for salads, choose vinaigrettes over creamy dressings.

2. Go for variety over quantity. Don’t order a really large pizza to serve as dinner for your family. Instead, opt for a smaller size of pizza, on thin crust and add an order of salad. Greens and vegetables can easily fill your tummy and make you full faster. This, in turn, can make you eat less. Also, choose pizza toppings that are healthier for you and your family, like lean meat, seafood and white cheese.

3. Keep fresh fruits and vegetables at home. Forego set meal deals (those that come with a drink and fries) when ordering at takeaways. Too much soda can be bad for you and your family. Make your own fruit shakes or juices at home–it just takes a minute to whip one up. You can also decide not to have fries with your burgers and make an easy salad with lettuce, onions and tomatoes at home.

4. Choose grilled or baked instead of fried. Grilled options are always healthier than fried. So, keep this in mind when ordering at takeaways. A grilled chicken sandwich or a grilled fish sandwich is always better than a chicken or fish fillet sandwich. You can also choose baked potatoes instead of French fries. You can also go for Chicken Tandoori or Tikka (baked) instead of Samosas or Poppadoms, which are fried.

5. Skip dessert and go for fruit or nuts instead. Don’t make it a habit to pick up dessert along with your takeaway meal. Sundaes, ice cream cones and the like all have a high amount of cholesterol and sugar in them. Choose to munch on fresh fruit, like apples, pears and grapes instead. These give you and your family additional vitamins and fiber.
Ordering from takeaways is a practical and affordable option for busy parents. Although some takeaway foods are laden with fat and cholesterol, you can still choose to be healthy with takeaways by following the simple rules listed above.

Author Bio: Want to know where the best and healthiest takeaways are in your area? Visit our site for more information on takeaways in the UK.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: take away, chinese food, indian food, restaurant