It's undeniable - people are eating less red meat these days, and for several very good reason. Health is one of them - though red meat does deliver a lot of valuable protein and iron, it can also be high in fat or cholesterol. For many of us, that means it's no longer everyday fare. Restaurant meals, however, are a different matter! Restaurant steaks are as popular as ever - maybe even more so!

Apparently, all of our rules about healthy eating fall by the wayside when we're at a restaurant, and in the mood to celebrate. Or it may just be that people object to the smell of meat cooking at home, and would rather enjoy it when they're out. Whatever the reason, steak is still a popular restaurant meal.

Actually, enjoying a good cut of steak once in a while is a perfectly healthy choice. It may be high in fat and calories, but they certainly aren't empty calories - quite the contrary. So feel free to enjoy restaurant steaks without guilt, and to add to your pleasure, make sure you know exactly what you're ordering. If you only eat steak once in a while, you may not be familiar with the names for the different cuts - but learning them is well worth your while, so that you can order with confidence.

Restaurant steaks are sometimes named according to their preparation method or flavoring, but the real variables are steak cut and how well the steak is cooked. Unless you know that you like your meat rare (red in the middle), order it medium or well done. A medium rare steak will be juicier, but not red, and is a popular choice.

There is also a great deal of difference between a porterhouse steak, a sirloin steak, a T-bone steak, or filet mignon. As the restaurant menu will probably show, filet mignon is a choice cut and among the most expensive steaks; it's thin, tender and very enjoyable. A porterhouse is on the opposite end of the spectrum - thick, juicy, and very substantial.

Restaurant steaks are often described according to their weight on a restaurant menu - don't ignore this aspect, and be realistic about how much you can eat! Finally, when in doubt, ask your server about the distinctions between the various types of steak.