Work lunch at Italian Restaurant... What to eat?

jessicagrieshaber

Hi all! My boss is taking our team out for a fancy lunch to celebrate a recent accomplishment on our project. We are going to an Italian restaurant called Maggiano's Little Italy. Here's the menu:

http://www.maggianos.com/menu/lunch

I'm trying to figure out what the best (healthiest and lowest calorie) option on the menu. I was thinking either the Lighter Take Shrimp Fra Diavolo or the Grilled Chicken Caprese Salad with the dressing on the side.

Thoughts?

DeguelloTex

The shrimp is 400 calories. That seems more than reasonable.

VeryKatie

If I were you.. I would choose something meaty and about 1/2 your daily allowance. And then order black tea or coffee with it. That leaves enough calories for dinner, though you may wish to avoid snacks. Lighter Take Chicken Piccata looks good to me (660 cal and you can eat it all! - though watch out if it comes with bread or something that might not be included in the calorie count). Assuming it has chicken! I find I need lots of shrimp to fill me (though I do like that it has calcium!). I think that the salad you picked might be a bit of a whopper depending on how much cheese they give you. It's hard to tell.

I'd stick to an option that lists the calories personally. Just because it's easier.

Now... if you really like shrimp and the company is paying... go for the shrimp!

BoxerBrawler

I would get the spinach salad (dressing on the side and I'd opt for oil/vinegar) and I'd add either shrimp, salmon or both I'd probably snag a piece of bread too, if there is a bread basket.

BoxerBrawler

omg the desserts look fabulous! Forget lunch... I'd skip the food and just go with dessert! haha!

lemurcat12

I'd get the shrimp, personally, but since it has the calorie information just go with what you like.

flaminica

Their "Lighter Take" menu looks manageable. Or soup and a caprese salad. It could be worse. You could have been raised on that menu.

ndj1979

it is a celebratory lunch ..why not have whatever you want and then build the rest of your day around it...or if you go over for that day, jut be under the next day ...??

I would probably get the chicken parm sandwhich ...

supersocks117

Both look like good choices. I try to do. not so bad, eating out (vs. trying to eat my normal lunch/dinner calories) and just adjust my day. If it was me, though, I'd see if they could do the salmon with just lemon on the side (instead of lemon butter) and maybe have a side salad with it. Or I'd get a regular pasta dish and ask them to box half before they brought it out.

Francl27

I LOL'ed at their 'lighter' options at 900+ calories.

Yeah it would have to be the shrimp, I don't mind spending 1000 calories on lunch but the other stuff doesn't appeal to me.