How to Enjoy an Italian Dinner on a Diet

Many people love Italian food, but dieters sometimes avoid the cuisine because they think it has too many calories. However, you don't have to avoid your favorite pastas and antipastas entirely just because you're counting calories. Here's how to enjoy a delicious dinner at an Italian restaurant even if you're on a diet.

The first decision you'll have to make is what beverage you want to drink, and you can choose from both non-alcoholic and alcoholic options.

Water, of course, is the obvious choice for a non-alcoholic drink since it's calorie-free and usually the standard at restaurants. If you want something fancier than regular tap water, though, you can ask if the eatery carries bottles of mineral water or has unsweetened iced tea.

If you want an adult beverage, peruse the wine list. A glass of wine is always a good choice at an Italian restaurant, and you'll avoid added sugars that are often incorporated into cocktails.

As far as what wine to choose, a one with a lower alcohol content will have fewer calories. Light white wines usually have the fewest calories, but a light red only has a few more calories than a white. What you want to avoid is a heavy white or red, which can have lots of calories in each glass.

Many Italian restaurants note the alcohol content of wines alongside each selection's name on the wine list. If you don't see an alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage, you can ask your server or the sommelier to help you find something with a lower percentage.

If the group wants an appetizer, encourage the whole table to order just one. While many appetizers might be tempting, a single appetizer is sufficient to share with all but the largest dining parties. Everyone will be able to have a taste before their main meal arrives, and sharing one appetizer will truly create a communal setting for the meal.

At an Italian restaurant, the menu may have tomato-topped bruschetta, olives, Caprese salad, and prosciutto as some healthy appetizer options.

For your entree, go with a grilled chicken or fish dinner. Both are fairly low-calorie options as far as meat goes, and grilling is a healthy way to cook the foods. It's also a flavorful cooking method, and many grilled dishes are served with vegetables that offer further low-calorie and nutritional food.

If you really do want pasta, forgo a main dish of pasta. Instead, get some on the side with your chicken or fish -- and choose a pasta that comes with a tomato-based sauce rather than a creamy sauce. The tomato sauce will have fewer calories, and a side of pasta will be a smaller portion than an entire entree of it.

Whatever you end up ordering, remember you don't have to eat all of it during the meal. Most restaurant entrees are quite large, so you can eat only some of the food and take the rest home. You'll consume fewer calories - and you'll have tasty leftovers for lunch or dinner on another day.

For dessert, split something on the dessert menu with one or two other people in your party. Order whatever you all agree would be good to have, and enjoy taking bites together.

Lighter dessert will have fewer calories, but you can simply eat only a few bites if others want something that's rich and calorie-laden like a brownie sundae.

If you want a tasty Italian meal, make a reservation at Picano's Italian Grille.