Yes, that‘s right, go out and eat at your favorite restaurant food and remain faithful to your diet. Have the diet gods finally smiled on us and made restaurant food into diet food?

No, not quite that far, but you can be your own diet god and eat these three vegetables that are often used as sides at restaurants: Greens/Lettuce, Asparagus, and Zucchini.

Take the everyday lettuce and spinach leaves that are often used for side salads and you have a vitamin and mineral packed meal or healthy side with a filet of salmon.

Darker greens are better out ranking the lighter colored greens in vitamin and mineral volume, but both are good. Watch the salad dressing and choose a low-fat brand or opt for the basic vinegar and oil dressing which can be easily made at home. If you like extra toppings on your salad add pine nuts, tomatoes or cucumbers, but avoid the Bacos.

A T-bone steak often comes with a side of mashed potatoes and a few asparagus stalks lying off to the side of the enormous plate—with all of that meat in the way who can notice a few pieces of asparagus in all of their loneliness?

Actually asparagus can be used as a main course in some casseroles, of course made with low-fat and low sodium ingredients, while providing a much needed dose of vitamin A and folate.

There are other times for squash, or zucchini, other than Thanksgiving. Zucchini is another one of those restaurant sides that often get pushed to the side, but if you are pushing this vegetable away, you are disregarding a low-carb, low-calorie vegetable that can easily be sautéed alone or with your favorite stir fry. Mixed in with a skinless chicken breast and rice, zucchini can be a tasty player in an easy to make yet healthy dish.

Remember to always prepare healthy foods with health friendly ingredients and seasonings to create flavorful and vitamin packed meals.

So, next time you are grocery shopping remember the healthy restaurant sides that are often ignored and use them as a basis for your healthy diet and see how easy it is to eat with the restaurant taste but without the restaurant calories.