Cara Kempf is a certified personal trainer with the Fitness Zone in Carmel and a group fitness instructor with NIFS in downtown Indianapolis. She can be contacted at fitnessblog@theindychannel.com.

Eating out can be the most difficult time to stay on a healthy diet track. Everywhere we go we are surrounded by fattening, fried food.

Even the "healthy" meals on the menu are far from being really, truly healthy -- they're probably just healthi-er than the rest of the things that we have to choose from.

Aside from a few health-food restaurants, there aren't many places that we health nuts can go to eat away from home -- or are there?

Here are some tips to follow when going out to eat:

• Look for a "healthy options" section in the menu. This is your place to begin looking for your meal of choice.
• When you find something that looks appetizing, take the time to ask the waiter how it is prepared. Don't feel bad—this is their job and they should be able to find out for you.
• Specially order your meal however you want it. Have you ever seen Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally"? My husband makes fun of me because I am just like her when we go out to eat. "I would like steamed chicken and vegetables, please don't let butter or salt touch either one, a piece of plain wheat bread, and a small salad, no bacon or cheese with fat-free dressing on the side." Now, you may not be so extreme, but you can order your food however you like—you're paying!
• Don't use the "I'll eat less so I can have dessert and a glass of wine" excuse. They equal out to the same amount of calories right? Wrong. Your body processes foods differently, so eating junk will still go right to your backside. It's better to fill up on healthy food and take a bite or two of someone else's dessert.
• If you're one of those people that is obligated to eat out all of the time with clients or other business professionals, try to pack something and eat a little before you actually go to dinner. That way you can grab a salad or something small and be satisfied for the evening. Eating out every once in a while is okay, but eating out all the time will kill your healthy body! Next time you go out to eat try some of these tips to stay on track. Any restaurant that I've ever been to was more than obliged to cater to my needs—you can do it too!