For me, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up on my couch on a rainy Friday night, putting in my favorite movie, and eating Chinese food straight from the container. But as a “Skinny” girl, I often think twice about ordering this infamously fattening cuisine — General Tao’s Chicken has over 800 calories, 2,100 grams of sodium and 40 grams of fat per serving! When I do order, I skip the fried, greasy, and noodle dishes (so should you) and dig into healthier options so I can keep my figure while enjoying all the flavor. Check out my Skinny tips so you can dig in without filling out, too!

Bar food can be a diet disaster since it’s often fried, greasy, and cheesy. But let’s face it: Sometimes you’re out at happy hour with coworkers, grabbing drinks with the girls, or watching a game with the guys and your stomach is rumbling. Those fries smell delicious, plus if you don’t eat something you’ll get way too tipsy way too fast. Hey, we get it! Follow these Skinny rules while sipping and snacking and you’ll save hundreds of calories:

I eat out frequently, so I’m thrilled when I can enjoy a great meal and support the local community while doing it. My favorite local place in San Francisco? Tangerine — a restaurant serving Pacific Rim Cuisine (flavors from countries bordering the Pacific Ocean), where the dishes are unique, the flavors extraordinary, and the causes heart warming!

When warm weather hits, I find myself craving light, fresh foods — especially Japanese cuisine. Raw or cooked fish, crisp veggies, and light sauces — what more could I ask for! When the mood strikes, I head to Haru, a well known, modern style Japanese restaurant group with nine locations throughout New York City, Boston, and Philly. They’re known for their inventive cuisine, including endless options of specialty sushi rolls, but they have all the basics, too — done fresh and right.

You’ve already decided to forgo the midday burger for a salad — nice work! Now, make sure your seemingly healthy lunch choice pays off. You’d be shocked by how easy it is to create a salad that has more calories than that creamy pasta dish you cautiously avoided. In fact, I had a friend who once started visiting a salad bar every day for lunch — and actually gained weight! She didn’t realize her lettuce-based creations were adding up to nearly 1,000 calories each!

On a recent family trip to visit friends in Greenwich, CT, we stumbled upon the Beach House Cafe, a traditional American restaurant with a hint of nautical flavor that caters to the young, old, hip, and hungry. Bring your kids and friends to get a taste of the seashore, sunblock not required!     

As a dietitian, I love restaurants that take nutrition seriously. Even more than that, I love restaurants that serve nutritious meals so good that they fool you into thinking they’re rich and sinful. My latest favorite in this category is Seasons 52. A sophisticated grill and wine bar serving delectable American cuisine prepared with natural cooking methods and seasonal ingredients, this restaurant will keep you looking and feeling your best, even after three courses!

These days, tea is the new coffee. But with so many flavors and varieties touting different health benefits (antioxidant-rich, lowers cancer risk, lowers heart disease risk), how to pick from green, oolong, white, black, red, and herbal options? Ask a pro! Head to Tracy Stern SALONTEA TeaBar on New York’s Upper East Side.

Listen up meat eaters! This is something I recommend to all my clients: Go vegan at least one meal a week. Not only does it allow you to enjoy different cuisines, it also helps you up your consumption of fruits, veggies, alternative protein sources, and grains. Huge sacrifice? Not when you’re dining at Real Food Daily, an all-organic vegan restaurant in the Los Angeles area. Stop by the vibrant spot frequented by locals and celebs alike, and I promise you won’t be asking “where’s the beef?”

In Sin City, dining out is always an experience — it’s about the glitz and glamour as much as the food. So being a foodie, I had to do a lot of research for a hot spot that’s still serious about their grub before I flew to Vegas for a bachelorette weekend. What did I find? Nove Italiano, a newcomer in Italian cuisine with plenty of room for parties from 12 to 60 people, located in the Fantasy Tower of the Palms Casino. The food is classic Italian with a contemporary flare — good enough to hold your attention even in the trendy, celeb studded scene.

A wedding is supposed to be all about love. But somewhere between the third course, the sixth toast, and that second piece of cake (come on, you’re celebrating!), you’ll start to feel like it’s all about love handles — yours, specifically.

Brunch is one of our favorite meals, and with Mother's Day two days away, we’re guessing the breakfast-lunch combo might be in your immediate future. With extensive menus, delicious offerings, and typically less expensive options than dinner, brunch is the perfect way to celebrate. However, if you're watching your waistline, the meal can be a slippery slope. Before you head off to meet your friends or family, get The Skinny on avoiding calorie overload — without deprivation.

Cinco de Mayo on your mind? Head over to Rosa Mexicano — a popular Mexican restaurant with locations in New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Miami, New Jersey, and Maryland — where you can enjoy bold Mexican flavors and spirited fun. I eat here often and have a blast every time I go. Holiday or not, there’s always a party going on.

When a steak craving strikes, you better hope you’re in the mood for a crowded, grandiose restaurant. Typical New York City steakhouses are large and loud — and hard to get into if they’re good. Satisfy your craving without losing yourself in the hustle and bustle: Head uptown to Parlor Steakhouse, where outstanding quality meats are served in a more intimate, neighborhood setting.

When you think French food, you probably don’t think healthy — but it can be if you make the right choices. The great thing about brasserie style restaurants is their extensive menus. They’ve got options for almost all tastes, appetites, and budgets. So when I need a little touch of Paris, I head to Les Halles, a neighborhood favorite in Miami and New York City. The dark wood walls and Parisian posters lend it a casual chic feel, making it perfect for business meetings, dinner with friends, or a quick bite during a busy shopping day. In the spirit of French cafés, come as you are — casual or dressy, you’re always welcome.

Since I don’t cook, I can’t source my own local and organic ingredients, but I do eat at earth-friendly establishments that do all that good stuff for me. Gusto Organics not only uses all USDA certified organic ingredients in their food, they’re also certified by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York and the Green Restaurant Association. The standards are tough: Gusto runs on wind energy, solar lighting, and water conservation equipment, just to name a few of their green measures. And their bar? Yup, it’s also organic — and Skinny. A glass of organic wine will save you 300 calories per drink over a cocktail like a margarita.

What’s for lunch? More often than not, sandwiches are on the menu. Portable, satisfying, and fairly inexpensive, they’re a quick and easy way to refuel midday. But put the wrong stuff between the bread and the wrong bread around the stuff, and you’ll be consuming more than enough calories for the rest of the day. Check out my guide and start lunching your way slim!

The lunch hour is a Skinny girl’s time to shine. With endless café and dining options, it takes discretion to find fresh, healthy, quick, delicious food. We’ve already introduced you to one of our favorite east coast chains, so we’re psyched to share our new find, Freshii, a Chicago- and Toronto-based breakfast and lunch chain that fills all your Skinny needs — in a biodegradable container, to boot!