4. Don't starve yourself in anticipation of a restaurant visit. It's much easier to stay in control if you've been eating sensibly throughout the day.

5. Try to order first, so you won't be tempted or swayed by what everyone else is having.

6. Always ask how dishes are prepared. Are they baked? Are they broiled? Are they prepared with butter or oil? Ask what's in the sauce; ask what's in the soup; ask what's in the dressing. Servers are becoming accustomed to fielding these types of questions, so don't worry about pestering them.

7. Always ask for butter, gravy, sauces and salad dressings on the side. This permits you to control how much fat you eat. If it makes you feel better, lie to the server and say you have an allergy or that your doctor put you on a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. A little white lie is better than a big fat one.

8. Fill up on rolls and salad, but always skip the butter. Freshly baked dinner rolls are great on their own and even better for dunking in soups and sauces.

9. Learn to ask for milk instead of cream. A measly one-ounce container of half and half cream has approximately four grams of fat. How many cups of coffee do you have per day? A simple switch from cream to one percent or skim milk could mean substantial fat savings.

10. Ask for salsa or dill with a baked potato instead of sour cream and butter.