Ask for a salad with the salad dressing or oil and vinegar on the side. While olive oil is healthier than saturated fats like butter, a tablespoon can still drizzle over 13 grams of fat on your radicchio. Keep that number in mind when you're sopping fresh Italian bread in deliciously flavored olive oil on your table. Watch the dressing. A classic pasta with marinara sauce can be a lean choice.
Many restaurants have fresh, shredded parmesan cheese.
If you want a heavier entree such as fettuccini alfredo or lasagna, then downsize. Forget about ordering it as an entree if the plate is the size of a platter. See if you can get an appetizer-size portion. By reducing the serving size, the fat and calories are also cut. You can save additional calories and fat if you skip the dressing on your salad and bypass the spread on the bread.