Working in a restaurant has helped me see and understand different eating partens.

I decided to adopt the following behavior....

When the server comes to take the drink onder, I'll order water (even though I know I want a lemonade, which is more likely to be from concentrate with lots of sugar). So I will drink the water before my entree arrives to the table and order a lemonade with lots of ice. Since refills are free it really doesn't matter how much is in the glass. However the more ice on the glass, the less sugar i drink per glass.

I would skip the appetizer, if i really need or want to munch on something while waiting for my meal, a small side salad with no dressing would be it ( i never liked dressings becaused i didnt like vegetables before) I am happy with a dry salad and some lemons or lime to squeeze in it.

Whatever entree i order, I know by a fact that is going to be too big. Even though i might know that could finish it, the point is portion control. Specially here in Vegas, where every single place over serve.Therefore I would draw a line on my plate, with the knife (imaginary lines don't work) of what i am eating and what i am taking home or leaving on the table.

Servers are less likely to offer you a dessert wheen they see you couldn't finish, but if they do, a "thank you but i am full know"  will prevent me from aeting all those treets.