Olive Garden?

not_my_first_rodeo
not_my_first_rodeo Posts: 311 Member
edited November 14 in Food and Nutrition
My book club is going to Olive Garden tonight. I haven't been there in years. I'm looking at their menu for options, but I'm wondering if people have suggestions.

Are they lumping all the lighter fare under "Tastes of the Mediterranean?"

I can't tell if their entrees come with anything I need to avoid (I am assuming the breadsticks are going to put me over so am already planning on not touching those).

Replies

  • laur357
    laur357 Posts: 896 Member
    http://media.olivegarden.com/en_us/pdf/olive_garden_nutrition.pdf

    I usually get lasagna or cheese ravioli and eat half. Minestrone soup instead of salad. 500 calories or 630 calories for dinner portions. I can usually fit a breadstick in for 140 calories too.

    Sometimes just 2 or 3 bowls of zuppa tuscana (220) and minestrone (110) and a breadstick

    I'm mostly in it for the soup. :)
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I like the chicken piccata.

    http://www.olivegarden.com/menu/chicken-piccata/prod80483

    Here's the full nutrition pdf for Olive Garden:

    http://media.olivegarden.com/en_us/pdf/olive_garden_nutrition.pdf
  • not_my_first_rodeo
    not_my_first_rodeo Posts: 311 Member
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)

    The entrees all come with soup or salad and breadsticks. The calories on the description pages (like the first link I put up) do not include calories for those though.
  • laur357
    laur357 Posts: 896 Member
    Right, you can choose either salad or any of their soups with every entree. Breadsticks are included with everything. Salad and breadsticks come out family style (I actually have no idea what their idea of a "serving" of salad is - it's definitely not the entire bowl!)

    I'd also rather have Thai . . .
  • not_my_first_rodeo
    not_my_first_rodeo Posts: 311 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)

    The entrees all come with soup or salad and breadsticks. The calories on the description pages (like the first link I put up) do not include calories for those though.

    Okay. None of the soups appeal. I'll skip the salad if I can't get it without dressing.

    Thanks. I think I can find something from this menu.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)

    The entrees all come with soup or salad and breadsticks. The calories on the description pages (like the first link I put up) do not include calories for those though.

    Okay. None of the soups appeal. I'll skip the salad if I can't get it without dressing.

    Thanks. I think I can find something from this menu.

    You can definitely get it without dressing. It comes in a big bowl for everybody at the table to use. Just ask the server to bring it on the side. That is what we do because my husband doesn't like it. I think they might also have a light version of the dressing if you want to try it.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)

    The entrees all come with soup or salad and breadsticks. The calories on the description pages (like the first link I put up) do not include calories for those though.

    Okay. None of the soups appeal. I'll skip the salad if I can't get it without dressing.

    Thanks. I think I can find something from this menu.

    You can definitely get it without dressing. It comes in a big bowl for everybody at the table to use. Just ask the server to bring it on the side. That is what we do because my husband doesn't like it. I think they might also have a light version of the dressing if you want to try it.

    They do have a light version of the dressing. It is very good - you won't even notice the difference.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)

    The entrees all come with soup or salad and breadsticks. The calories on the description pages (like the first link I put up) do not include calories for those though.

    Okay. None of the soups appeal. I'll skip the salad if I can't get it without dressing.

    Thanks. I think I can find something from this menu.

    You can definitely get it without dressing. It comes in a big bowl for everybody at the table to use. Just ask the server to bring it on the side. That is what we do because my husband doesn't like it. I think they might also have a light version of the dressing if you want to try it.

    They actually sell a (very) light dressing in stores like Wal-Mart.....it's yummy. So I would think the restaurant could provide light dressing.
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)

    The entrees all come with soup or salad and breadsticks. The calories on the description pages (like the first link I put up) do not include calories for those though.

    Okay. None of the soups appeal. I'll skip the salad if I can't get it without dressing.

    Thanks. I think I can find something from this menu.

    You can definitely get it without dressing. It comes in a big bowl for everybody at the table to use. Just ask the server to bring it on the side. That is what we do because my husband doesn't like it. I think they might also have a light version of the dressing if you want to try it.

    They actually sell a (very) light dressing in stores like Wal-Mart.....it's yummy. So I would think the restaurant could provide light dressing.

    I love this dressing, but I've never seen it as an option at the restaurant. Does anyone know if it is, in fact, available at the restaurant? (Not that it matters... the only thing I really enjoy at OG is the Zuppa Tuscana and I make a perfectly good low-cal version at home ;) )
  • not_my_first_rodeo
    not_my_first_rodeo Posts: 311 Member
    It looks like there's mayo in it and I just don't like that (I don't care whether it's made from scratch, what brand it is, Miracle Whip, doesn't matter). But it doesn't matter. If I can get it without, I'm good.

    This has been very helpful.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I always get the minestrone and eat a couple breadsticks. I'm just not big on most of their food. It I love that soup. Oh, and the Sicilian cheesecake... *Homer drooling gif
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    try2again wrote: »
    TeaBea wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)

    The entrees all come with soup or salad and breadsticks. The calories on the description pages (like the first link I put up) do not include calories for those though.

    Okay. None of the soups appeal. I'll skip the salad if I can't get it without dressing.

    Thanks. I think I can find something from this menu.

    You can definitely get it without dressing. It comes in a big bowl for everybody at the table to use. Just ask the server to bring it on the side. That is what we do because my husband doesn't like it. I think they might also have a light version of the dressing if you want to try it.

    They actually sell a (very) light dressing in stores like Wal-Mart.....it's yummy. So I would think the restaurant could provide light dressing.

    I love this dressing, but I've never seen it as an option at the restaurant. Does anyone know if it is, in fact, available at the restaurant? (Not that it matters... the only thing I really enjoy at OG is the Zuppa Tuscana and I make a perfectly good low-cal version at home ;) )

    We ask for it every time we go there. I've never seen it as an option on the menu but they do have it.
  • not_my_first_rodeo
    not_my_first_rodeo Posts: 311 Member
    It worked out well! Got the garlic rosemary chicken. Had 1 breadstick. Skipped the salad because it didn't look all that appetizing anyhow.
  • Weightwatcher6314
    Weightwatcher6314 Posts: 11 Member
    I have asked for the low cal version of their dressing and they had it, so just ask. Cant really tell the difference and calorie saving is impressive.
  • MalkinMagic71
    MalkinMagic71 Posts: 1,433 Member
    Tour of Italy all day long there with like 3 or 4 breadsticks and a bowl of zuppa.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    There are only 2 dishes I get at OG now. One is the garlic rosemary chicken. The other is the grilled salmon.
    OG was for many years my wife's favorite.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    not_my_first_rodeo wrote: »
    Thanks! Do you know if the entrees come with soup or salad or those breadsticks? I have a tight amount of calories for today and while I occasionally go over if I think it's worth it--I am not anxious to waste them on this place (now if we were going out for Thai...)

    Remember you don't have to eat the whole entree. Get one the reheats well, eat half, then take the rest home to eat another day.
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