یو بینک ہوم لون - گورنمنٹ مارک اپ سبسڈی اسکیم

One of the healthiest things you can do before going out to eat is to read the menu online. Many national restaurants have nutrition information listed alongside their items on their website, and when you figure out what you want to order beforhand, you have a better chance of choosing something delicious that fits into your healthy eating goals.

We asked Lauren Blake, a dietitian with the The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and healthy lifestyle blogger at wholelivinglauren.com, what she would order at the top sit-down chain restaurants in the U.S. She found that there were a lot of seemingly healthy salad choices that are actually loaded down with calories, saturated fat and sodium. And dishes that may seem more decadent, like steaks and roast chicken, are actually a smarter choice when it comes to portion size, calorie count and nutrition.

Even if you're not eating at any of these restaurants any time soon, Blake's choices show us what to look for -- and what to avoid -- when going out to eat.