Plan Ahead Experts agree that the No. 1 way to eat healthy while at a restaurant, no matter the dietary concern, is to prepare ahead of the meal. “When you walk into a restaurant and smell those fries, it’s hard to say, ‘I’m going to order a salad,’” says Debbie Petitpain, RDN, an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson, registered dietitian, and wellness director in South Carolina. She recommends you look at the menu ahead of time and avoid making decisions when you’re hungry.