Has your stress level already kicked up a notch and the holidays haven’t technically started yet? Too tired to cook? Do you plan on dining out more often with friends and family but want to eat healthy too? The good news is that many popular restaurants are going green plus offering you healthier options. All you have to do is order and enjoy them.

Leading the way is Darden Restaurants headquartered in Orlando. You may not know that name but I bet you know your favorite restaurant under their umbrella including Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Grille and LongHorn Steakhouse. Just recently Darden opened their new 469,000 square-foot corporate restaurant support center. Designed to achieve Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (known as LEED) from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), it will be the largest LEED Gold new construction building in Florida. I had the opportunity to chat with Rich Jeffers, Director, Media Relations & External Communications. He shared with me that Darden’s commitment to sustainability is seen in the many sustainable design and construction elements found in its new home.

• More than 90 percent of the waste generated from construction was recycled.
• The facility has an automatic lighting system that dims or brightens according to the amount of sunlight entering the building which helps reduce energy consumption.
• There is increased use of natural light which we have a lot of here in Orlando made possible by a 114,000 square-foot glass curtainwall exterior.

Besides being an ecofriendly facility, from an employee health perspective, the Darden café offers 1300 employees daily healthful selections along with break rooms throughout the facility stocked with fresh fruit and nutritious snacks. With a ½ mile walking trail, business meetings can truly be taken outside. Plus, and this is one of my favorite design features, nine extra wide staircases encourage movement which ultimately may help improve productivity.

I asked Rich if these same green and healthier living parameters carry over into their restaurants. All of Darden restaurants have ‘green teams’ whose mission is to find energy conservation opportunities within each facility.

I also wanted to know answers to the questions you ask me. If you want healthier options, are they available in each restaurant? How are the healthier options designated on the menu? Can you look at the menu online before you head to your favorite restaurant?

Although sustainability may be new on the menu, meeting the diverse palate and dietary needs of customers is not. Menu options abound. Let’ talk about restaurant options plus some smart tips for dining out during the holidays and anytime.

1. I’m starting with dessert first since you know I’m a chocolate lover. Share a dessert…you share the calories and still enjoy the treat without feeling deprived.
2. Seafood is very popular and healthy. Order your selection poached, steamed, broiled or grilled (without butter) or blackened. You won’t miss the butter for the spice profile negates the need for it. Heading to Red Lobster? They offer a fresh selection of fish that can be wood-grilled and prepared to your liking. Also check out the LightHouse menu at RedLobster.com with selections less than 500 calories and 750mg of sodium.
3. Want shellfish? Try cocktail sauce instead of melted butter for dipping. Big calorie saver with lots of flavor.
4. If you have a choice, opt for the smaller portion size. You save many calories and still have the item you want. When you order a regular portion size, also ask for a to-go container right then. When your order arrives, put half of it in the to-go container. Why? Because typically the portion size is way more than you need and if you don’t cut it in half then, guess what, you’ll eat it…right? This is my favorite trick.
5. Don’t forget to ask for all of your sauces on the side so you control the amount used. This includes salad dressing, mayo and butter. If you have a hard time controlling the amount of salad dressing you pour on the salad, try dipping the tines of your fork into the salad dressing and then into your greens. It lowers the amount used significantly. Going to Olive Garden?  Take a look at the Garden Fare menu which has a range of dishes from low fat to gluten free or no sugar added.
6. Breading, frying and cream sauces add calories to your backside so less is more when it comes to healthy selections. Meeting at Seasons 52? All of the menu items contain 475 calories or less.

You can tell that I’m a big fan of reviewing menus online. Why? Because many of you have told me that you love to eat out but have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or need gluten-free choices. Checking the menu before you go puts you in control of your health and what you eat. You make decisions based on what’s right for you.

Listen to this week’s podcast