Nutrition experts have long advocated against eating meals outside of the home. Restaurants generally serve food that is of little nutritional value, has few vitamins and minerals and is high in fat. However, this is not necessarily always the case, according to a new study.

A team of researchers from the University of Texas enrolled 35 women into a weight management program that educated them on how to choose healthier meals when they were dining out. The results showed that, compared to another group of women that did not participate in the educational program, these women were able to lose a significant amount without limiting their meals out.

The researchers said their findings could be significant given the degree to which dining out has become a part of American culture. The results suggest that restaurant meals aren't always unhealthy and that diners may be able to stick to a nutritious diet as long as they know what to look for.

"Based on what we learned from this study, for those individuals who eat out frequently, developing the skills needed to eat out without gaining weight from the excess calories typically consumed at restaurants may be essential to long-term health," said Dr. Gayle Timmerman, who led the study.