Staying slim on vacation.

• Position: Travel

With summer travel in full swing, the dietary counseling staff of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, suggests a number of ways to eat healthy while on vacation:

Plan ahead. Become familiar with the places you might be able to eat at while on the road and once you reach your destination. Skip the hot dogs, french fries, and pizza and look for eateries that serve fruit, soup, and sandwiches. Check out the resident farmer's market for a selection of fresh fruit to use as snacks. Have local seafood if traveling to a coastal destination.

Understand the menu. Look for high-fat wording: fried, buttery, au gratin, etouffee, sauteed, creamy, rich, and breaded. Ask questions. Do not assume a dish is healthy because it has chicken and vegetables. Inquire about sauces, toppings, and methods of preparation. Always choose grilled, preferably not basted in butter or oil. Stay away from cream sauces and dressings. Select marinara or other nonoil-based sauces. Finally, beware of the bread basket, which always appears when you are hungry and ready to eat.

Think outside the box. Just because you always get a certain dish does not mean there are no other choices. Take time to look over the menu. Many fast food places have added a number of healthy options for main meals and even offer fruit as a side dish.

Watch portion sizes. Split your entree with a friend. Portion sizes in restaurants typically are far larger than the recommended serving.

Be salad savvy. Though we all think of salads as a healthy...