How often have you gotten excited about going out to a restaurant, but your brain questions what price your health might pay for the meal?

If you joke to friends, "I'll have to spend an extra five hours at the gym to burn off this meal," then San Diego-based HealthyDiningFinder.com may be just what the doctor ordered. The site helps identify "reasonably healthy" menu choices at restaurants across the country.

The National Restaurant Association and various governmental agencies teamed up with Healthy Dining to grow and publicize HealthyDiningFinder.com,to create auseful resource that consumers can utilize as they plan to dine out.

HealthyDiningFinder.com.

Courtesy photo

People can search for restaurants by city, ZIP code, price range,by availability of take-out, delivery and catering. The site includes restaurants of all types, covering the culinary spectrum from fast food to high end, and plenty in between.

Wait. Fast food? How is that a healthy choice? "Restaurants can qualify to be featured on the site with as few as four menu items that meet our nutrition criteria," says Erica Bohm, vice president and director of strategic partnerships at Healthy Dining.

What does Healthy Dining consider to be a reasonably healthy meal? "Featured entrees include either a lean protein, fruits/vegetables or whole grains (often two of these), and clock in at no more than 750 calories, 25 grams of fat, and eight grams of saturated fat," says Bohm. "Side dishes, appetizers and desserts contain no more than 250 calories, eight grams of fat, and three grams of saturated fat."

San Diego restaurants highlighted at HealthyDiningFinder.com include Jack in the Box, Anthony's Fish Grotto, Tio Leo's, Marketplace Grill, and Bare Back Grill. At the latter, patrons can order a shrimp wrap that contains mesquite grilled shrimp on fresh lavash bread with tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, red onion, lettuce and mayo.

And the nutritional analysis:

A key to this item passing the Healthy Dining criteria: request dressing be served on the side.

Healthy Dining was created by registered dieticians and health professionals dedicated to enlightening the public. The staff is sometimes hired by restaurants to perform a complete analysis of all menu items. Bohm notes that the health trend is on the upswing. "Many more restaurants are providing nutrition information (calories, fat, etc.), and making sure they offer a selection of menu items that appeal to health-conscious diners," she says.