Sure, you love going out to eat, or even ordering dinner. But do you want to eat healthy AND tasty foods and not everyone knows to stay away from fried rice, eggrolls and double cheese pizza? What about healthy food that is less common but just as tasty, like Greek cuisine? Can it also be healthy? If you like dining out but are looking for healthier options… read on. oops!

Let’s take a fresh look at Greek cuisine. As with all Mediterranean cuisine, Greek cuisine offers a lot of fish and vegetables. In addition, beans are an important source of protein for the people of the region. You get “good fats” with all those wonderful olives (monounsaturated or heart healthy), but just because it’s better for you DOESN’T MEAN it’s LOW CALORIES. One gram of fat contains 9 calories, whichever way you look at it, so be moderate. Many restaurants will prepare fish specials “just grilled with olive oil and lemon.” Avoid the fried, creamy, cheese-topped offerings.

Healthy Snacks: Greek Garden Salad (small), Roasted Tomato Soup, Greek Seafood Pilaf, Octopus Salad, Beets with Garlic Sauce and Steamed Wild Greens

Healthy entrees: penne pasta with eggplant and tomato (or other seafood pasta – marinara sauce), grilled fish, rice with chickpeas, beetroot with garlic sauce, vegetable dolmades (tender vine leaves stuffed with rice, tomato and herbs), baby octopus Grilled, Baked Giants (Giant Beans, Tomato, Onion, Fennel & Dill, Greek Fava (Yellow Pea Purée topped with Chopped Arugula, Spring Onions & Capers), Malitzanosalata (Garlic Lemon Roasted Eggplant Salad), Beetroot with Skordalia (red beet, giant marinated string beans with garlic sauce) or black-eyed beans with capers (a delicious vegetarian dish, like many other recipes with broad beans, lentils and legumes).

desserts: Fortunately, fruit is the most common way to end a delicious Greek meal, so you may have the option of sharing a plate of fresh or dried fruit (think figs, grapes, apples)…Firkia Glyko is a good choice since it is small, whole sweet apples prepared in a light syrup seasoned with cinnamon and cloves; Karpouzosoupa is a refreshing watermelon soup made with sweet wine, mint, and honey; and Akhlathia me Sokolata is simply whole poached pears served with a dark chocolate sauce. Also, remember that quinces are in season in late fall. It’s a cross between an apple and a pear, and while raw quince is astringent, when cooked with sugar (or a sweet spoon, like preserves) the flavor is delicious.