Foods you should avoid when eating out - When you go out for a meal, it's normal to order something you don't usually eat or drink at home. However, many of these foods and drinks might not be what they seem... Find out what not to order the next time you go to a restaurant!

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Leftovers - After cooked, a meal should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. If you go somewhere before returning home, skip the doggie bag.

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Entrée salads - Health's article reveals that a well-known American restaurant chain serves a chicken salad with about 1,300 calories and 84 grams of fat. In this case, a Cobb or chicken salad may not be the best option.

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Frozen yogurt - Some people think it's a healthier alternative to regular ice cream. However, a portion of frozen yogurt can contain about 32 grams of sugar. This without the usual toppings!

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Fast food menu -

As tempting as it may sound, ordering a fast food menu is not a good option. An hamburger, fries, and a soda can contain a total of 1,100 calories and about 50 grams of fat.

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The breakfast special - Some people just love a breakfast with bacon, eggs, sausages, and pancakes. If you choose to eat this, try to balance it with fruit and vegetables.

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Popcorn tub - When you go to the movies, the large popcorn tub usually gets you more bang for your buck. However, one of these bad boys can have 1,200 calories and lots of saturated fats. It's best to order a small tub and share it.

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Raw oysters - This delicacy may contain Hepatitis A and a bacterium called Vibrio vulnificus, which can cause diarrhea and vomiting. You should not order raw oysters.

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Shark - Although not very common, some restaurants do sell this delicacy. It should be avoided because it contains high levels of mercury. This element can be particularly harmful for pregnant women.

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A starter with more than 700 calories - On average, a person should not consume more than 700 calories per meal. It is normal to exceed this number when eating out. An omelette can have up to 1,300 calories.

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Cheese fries with ranch dressing - This delicacy has a massive amount of sodium, and exceeds the recommended daily amount. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, blood vessel functioning is impaired 30 minutes after eating extremely salty foods.

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Foods rich in trans fats - Trans fats are harmful to our health. There are several dishes, especially in fast food restaurants, that contain this type of fats.

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Green smoothies - A popular American chain makes smoothies mixing cabbage and avocado, as well as frozen yogurt, juice, and sugar. This results in a 500 calorie smoothie! As you can see, it's not as healthy as you might think.

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Water with lemon -

Order water but remember to order the lemon separately. According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, researchers tested 76 lemons in 21 restaurants and 70% of the lemons were contaminated with bacteria.

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Free refills -

A soda can have around 120 calories and about 33 grams of sugar. Limit yourself to two of these!

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All-you-can-eat pasta buffet - Pasta is cheap so it's normal for restaurants to fill your plate with it. However, this is not beneficial to your health. Take the leftovers home. It's better than stuffing yourself with pasta until you're unable to move!

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Medium-rare burger - When minced meat is not cooked at the right temperatures, it becomes dangerous. A medium-rare burger is more dangerous than a medium-rare steak. Microbes are usually found on the meat surface, hence the need of heat to eliminate them.

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Drinking more than one margarita -

According to the article, a woman should not drink more than seven drinks in a week. A margarita amounts to 1.7 units, so drinking more than one is not a good idea because of the amount of alcohol they contain.

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Chicken dish - This option may always seem healthier, however sometimes the chicken breast served is enormous. The solution is not to overeat.

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Sprouts - The warm and humid environment in which sprouts grow is very favorable to the growth of bacteria. It is recommended that you avoid consuming raw sprouts when you eat out.

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Creamy soup - Eating soup before a meal is beneficial. It makes you feel fuller and consequently makes you eat less. However, this is not recommended with creamy soups. A creamy soup by itself is considered a full meal as it can contain up to 500 calories.

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Chips and salsa - In many restaurants, the platters are so full that we can't even see the bottom. Needless to say, this will make you indulge in overeating.

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Bread with olive oil - Olive oil is beneficial to our health. However, many people tend to eat too much bread with olive oil before meals and end up consuming far too many calories.

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Rum (or vodka) and diet soda -

Mixing alcoholic beverages with diet soda may increase the harmful effects of alcohol. Researchers say that the reduced number of calories in these beverages are not worth the risk.

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Diet soda -

Research suggests that, contrary to popular belief, diet sodas do not help with weight loss. According to a study by the University of Texas, people who drank diet sodas daily eventually saw their bellies grow bigger.

See also: Order water but remember to order the lemon separately. According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, researchers tested 76 lemons in 21 restaurants and 70% of the lemons were contaminated with bacteria.

See also: Not so obvious health-checks you should be doing annually

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