You might even ask for a takeout box as soon as the meal is placed in front of you. Before you begin to eat put half of the meal into the box and set it aside. That way you won't be tempted to keep eating more than is reasonable. It is perfectly OK to order from the appetizer menu so that you will be served smaller portions. You might add a salad so that you have something to eat while everyone else is still eating.
Fields cautions that when eating at a Chinese restaurant, be careful about fat content.
Concentrate on vegetable and protein dishes that are not deep-fried. It's easy to eat too much rice, both steamed and fried, as well as noodles. Remember, some large tortillas have as many carbohydrates as three or four slices of bread. Portion sizes are sometimes a problem at Italian restaurants. This is a great place to use that takeout box because quantities tend to be larger.