Recently my partner and I were enjoying a sunny afternoon on a patio. The waitress leaned in and asked if I had read 50 Shades of Grey. I replied that no, I hadn't. She assumed "hadn't" meant "hadn't yet," because she went on to describe in great detail how much I would love it. If I had specifically asked "How long can I expect to wait for the chocolate soufflé and/or a mind-blowing orgasm?" then perhaps her words may have been appropriate.

Many of us find ourselves eating out on a regular basis due to social or corporate demands, but restaurants' objectives are not to keep our weight in line. On average Americans eat out at least four times per week. Can you eat out and maintain your weight without consuming only veggies and steamed fish? Yes you can. Here is my advice.

What looks like a convivial scene is a waiter's nightmare: people at a table, chatting away, menus closed with drinks in their hands. Yet when Alex M...