10 ways to stick to your weight-loss plan

If your No. 1 resolution for the new year is to eat healthier and shed some pounds, congratulations and good luck.

But those of us who dine out frequently will need more than luck to make real progress.

Here are 10 simple ways to eat wisely:

1. Read the menu before you go to avoid impulse ordering and to make sure the restaurant has appealing, suitable choices.

2. Say yes to water and no to bread, especially if you’re hungry. Satisfying your thirst will take the edge off your hunger.

3. Remember drinks have calories too. Five ounces of wine has about 100 calories; 12 ounces of regular beer, about 150; and a 5-ounce Cosmopolitan, about 260.

4. Have salads and broth-based soup as starters. They’re usually lower in calories and more filling than items on the appetizer list.

5. If it’s deep-fried, don’t order it.

6. Choose cuisines that are naturally more healthful: Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food for big flavors with relatively few calories. Japanese food is light and doesn’t depend on fat and sugar for flavor.

7. Don’t hesitate to ask if sides or sauces can substituted.

8. Plan to take food home if portions are large. Stop at the halfway point and ask for a box.

9. Share a main course with a friend or have an appetizer in place of an entree.

10. Plan your splurges. Tighten your belt for a couple of days to compensate and then go for it.