Interesting article. 

I enjoy eating.  I enjoy eating at restaurants.  I try to watch what I eat.  Eating in restaurants generally challenges my ability to eat something healthy.  This story talks about some of the places that make that goal a tiny bit easier.

MSNBC Interactive – America’s healthiest restaurants:
Want to dine out without the calories in tow? Hit the town guilt-free with this list

Health magazine surveyed chain restaurants and found 10 surprisingly healthy standouts. Hit our top 10 for whole foods, good-for-you fats, even green vegetables on — gasp! — the children’s menu. Read on for the winners, great fast-food options, plus, how to eat out without gaining a pound.

Note: Health magazine judged all the restaurants on these criteria: healthy food preparation, whole grains on the menu, limited or no trans-fats in all dishes, low-sodium options, portion control, and how easily the customer can access nutritional information.

Ok — this makes sense.  Let me point out some of the surprising places that made the list.  Since I live in suburbia, I’m surrounded by restaurant chains who are generally pretty formulaic in their food prep, and focused on profit margins.  The individual, privately-owned places that you find in cities have more freedom to try out new, possibly healthier, recipes.  The risk of changing the menu in only one restaurant allows them this freedom.  Larger, chain places have to systematically aim to be healthy.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
Healthy dining here comes in the form of whole-grain brown rice, sustainable Alaskan salmon, all-natural chicken, wok-based cooking (which requires less oil), and less sodium in the sauces.

We love: Carb-free vegetarian lettuce wraps

I loooove P.F. Chang’s.  Their food is fantastic.  This is one of the places that has a very unique style to their food prep, and is packed w/ great flavor.  I’m not surprised to find them on the list.

Noodles & Company
This restaurant combines 19 fresh vegetables with seven types of pastas in Asian, Mediterranean, or American entrees.

We love: The Trio — soup, noodles, or salad paired with your favorite protein, plus a side salad or a cup of soup

Yet another not-so-surprising entry.  Delicious, light and different, I always leave pleased.

Chipotle Mexican Grill
They use naturally raised, antibiotic-free meats, organic beans, and even hormone-free sour cream. The Corn tortillas give you a whole-grain option, and the tortilla-less Burrito Bowl lets you ramp up the protein and veggies.

We love:  Tacos with Black Beans and Chicken

Ok.  This one is a standout.  The portions at Chipotle are mind-blowingly large.  My first time there, I got a burrito AND chips/salsa.  The burrito must’ve weighed about 5lbs.  Honestly.  The tortilla alone has 17g of fat in it, though the article specifically talks about the tortilla-less option.

Lastly, six healthy eating tips (I guess the last one’s a freebie?).

5 healthy eating tips

Yes, truly. Steer clear of menu pitfalls with these tips from our experts Hope S. Warshaw and Cheryl Forberg.

Order it your way. You’re the customer, and most restaurants will do everything they can to keep you happy. So don’t be afraid to nicely ask to have that shrimp special grilled instead of fried.
Think tapas. Don’t feel compelled to order an entrée. You can put together a healthier meal out of two or three appetizers and side dishes.
Beware of the four Cs — crunchy, cheesy, crispy, and creamy. Those words are code for fat-dense foods.
Say bye-bye to bread. There’s no need to test your willpower. Take just one slice, then ask the waiter to remove that breadbasket from the table.
Undress your salad. Dilute your favorite salad dressing with a squeeze of lemon or a few drops of vinegar.
Get your doggy bag up front. Wrap up half before you dig in — out of sight, out of mind … and mouth.

Avoid the four C’s?  I love the four C’s :'(  (The doggy bag idea is great, though.)