Your Favorite Healthy Eating Out Choices in the USA

Jenninscotland
Jenninscotland Posts: 97 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi there,

I am an Expat living in Scotland and taking a wonderful vacation home to the USA in a few days for a couple of weeks. I however don't want to gain weight while on my trip. Having lived abroad for several years, I feel like I have increasingly become oblivious to the various restaurant chains and what they have in terms of healthy eating choices.

I will be travelling through a few states, so most chains should be represented. I'd be very appreciative if you could share your experiences/thoughts of any places you love to go because you know that they have some fantastic healthy options (Chipolte springs to mind as I ate at one last year when I visited Nashville). Healthy options could include great low cal options or foods of high quailty cooked with natural ingredients.

Thanks so much in advance and I very much look forward to reading your ideas/thoughts/experiences.

Jennifer
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Replies

  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    Which states are you traveling through? Are you going on the 95 corridor? Subway is freaking everywhere along the highways. Chipotle.. not so much. I have held my hunger multiple hours to get to the next Chipotle.

    Panera has recently made their calorie information even more transparent. Their salads are awesome: https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/menu-categories/salads.html I usually get the paninis, but that's much more "make it fit the calories" vs "eating low cal."

    If you tell us the general area you're going we can be of better assistance. There are a lot of chains that don't repeat as much as you'd think, especially regionally (like Wawa, Blimpie, etc).

    ETA: Wawa has some great pre-packaged cheese and grapes-type packs. Hummus and carrots. Veggie + spread. You get the idea. They also have hard boiled eggs, yoghurts, hot oatmeal, and smoothies.
  • hallo_spacedog
    hallo_spacedog Posts: 40 Member
    Wawa is only in the NJ, PA maybe DE area though.
  • Grumpsandwich
    Grumpsandwich Posts: 368 Member
    Applebee's and Olive Garden both have a "lighter " section where the entire meal us under 500 calories and they are clearly marked on the menu. I dont eat in very often but they have car side to go which i do every so many months for a treat ( hate eating out with crowds)

    The grilled chicken lasagna at Olive Garden is one of my favorites! ugh its a light ricotta and summer veg lasagna, very light n fluffy topped with grilled chicken and the BIGGEST salad you ever seen hehe

    Also for a quick bite through the drive through. A small chili and baked potato at Wendy's is under 500

    Low calorie is becoming quite popular and a majority of places now have a few selections on the diet friendly list. I suggest checking for eating establishments in the area you are visiting and looking at the online menu's ( and try not to drool too badly lol)
  • 81Katz
    81Katz Posts: 7,074 Member
    I've had the Napa Chicken & Portobello's at Applebee's and liked it.

    480 calories
    14g fat
    Sat. fat 3.5g
    Sodium 1450
    Carbs 35g
    Fiber 5
    Protein 54
    They have other 'light' menu items.
    Their nutrition guide: http://www.applebees.com/~/media/docs/Applebees_Nutritional_Info.pdf

    I recently had the 'Lasagna Primavera with Grilled Chicken' at Olive Garden and while it was tasty the portion was reallllly small. Like child's size, maybe smaller. Which I guess is why it's on the 'lighter side' menu choices. :laugh:


    Calories 560
    Fat 29g
    Sat fat 10g
    Sodium 1700
    Carbs 41g
    Protein 38g
    Their nutrition guide:
    http://media.olivegarden.com/en_us/pdf/olive_garden_nutrition.pdf
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    Wawa is only in the NJ, PA maybe DE area though.

    ... I know. That's why I prefaced that suggestion with:
    There are a lot of chains that don't repeat as much as you'd think, especially regionally (like Wawa, Blimpie, etc).
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    I usually eat at Subway or Chipotle. My rationale is that I "control" what goes into my meal to some extent. Of course, you can get less healthy options at both...and load both up with less than stellar options.

    My default at Subway is a 6 in. Turkey & Cheese (no mayo); it's just over 300cals. My default at Chipotle is the chicken tacos with veggies and salsa...and yes, sour cream. That's closer to 600 cals, but 42 grams of protein.
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    I should add...we went to England/Scotland in 2007. We ate at groceries stores for the majority of our meals (I can't remember the big chain there). We bought sandwiches from the deli and supplement with yogurt cups/fruit/etc. That worked very well for us. You could do the same here. Depends on where you are going, but stores like Giant should have a premade sandwich section.
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    Most chain restaurants have their menus with caloric information available online. You can eat responsibly at almost any restaurant if you're careful. The problem is resisting the high calorie food once you look at the menu.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    The only "healthy" thing I ever get while eating out is the McDonald's egg white delight with a fruit and yogurt parfait and iced coffee with sugar free vanilla syrup. I very rarely eat out during the week and I leave more calories on the weekend so I can eat out - I don't pick "healthy" options. I eat what I want and work it into my weekly goal.

    I did try some chicken thing on the Applebee's "under 550" menu. Never again. I'd rather eat at home than pick some mediocre "healthy" option at a restaurant.

    ETA: Oh, now that I think of it, I did try the Hook & Ladder Light sub at Firehouse last weekend for about 450 calories. It was surprisingly good, but the 900 calorie Steak & Cheese is better.
  • silverstarrlyte
    silverstarrlyte Posts: 83 Member
    don't know which part of the country you will be in, but if you are looking for fast food, Chic Fil A has grilled chicken sandwiches, and grilled chicken nuggets. You can get a cup of fruit instead of the fries and it is a quick and healthy alternative...
  • knitapeace
    knitapeace Posts: 1,013 Member
    I second Panera. I can fill up there very easily for 400-600 calories. They have a great online meal builder tool that lets you plan ahead. They even tell you what soups are on the menu that day.
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    I second Panera. I can fill up there very easily for 400-600 calories. They have a great online meal builder tool that lets you plan ahead. They even tell you what soups are on the menu that day.

    Panera is also nice b/c they have the calories for each dish listed in plain sight on the menu in the restaurant. And their food tastes great!
  • bingo_jenn
    bingo_jenn Posts: 63 Member
    http://www.exercise4weightloss.com/weight-watchers-points.html

    I found this when I was doing WW and when compared to the websites it seems pretty accurate for calorie count and whatnot. Just a nice, one-stop shop resource for finding options.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Wawa is only in the NJ, PA maybe DE area though.

    Wawa is definitely all over DE and parts of MD, too.

    If you are in any of these states, Wawa is definitely one of the best options. I can always find food to fit my macros well at Wawa.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    I'm going to go get some Chic-fil-a grilled nuggets for lunch today. 200 calories and 34 grams of protein for 12 nuggets is hard to argue with.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Castro Valley, CA
  • IPAkiller
    IPAkiller Posts: 711 Member
    I'm going to go get some Chic-fil-a grilled nuggets for lunch today. 200 calories and 34 grams of protein for 12 nuggets is hard to argue with.

    Chic-fil-a + 200cals + 34 grams of protein = I GOTS TO GET ME SUM!
    fat-kid-freaks-out-o.gif
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    Wawa is only in the NJ, PA maybe DE area though.

    Maryland and Virginia too...
  • pennyks88
    pennyks88 Posts: 167 Member
    Wawa is only in the NJ, PA maybe DE area though.

    Wawa is also in VA and NC :)
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    I'm going to go get some Chic-fil-a grilled nuggets for lunch today. 200 calories and 34 grams of protein for 12 nuggets is hard to argue with.

    Those things are great! The only bad thing is the ungodly sodium levels of Chik-Fil-A food. Holy sodium intake batman... It's HIGH.
  • Happymelz
    Happymelz Posts: 536 Member
    Cracker Barrel is actually quite EASY for eating out.
    They've added a few new lighter options and they have more veggie choices than most places.
    Yes, a lot of their veggies have added sugar/butter/fat BUT still less calories than most side dish options anywhere else.

    The oven baked chicken breast is coated in cornflake crumbs and is SOOOO yummy for 290 calories per portion.

    Their grilled catfish is 120 calories per piece.
  • askcupid117
    askcupid117 Posts: 126 Member
    Wawa is ALL over Florida as well!!
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Consider breakfast food.You can get eggs, bacon, grits (skip the bread) at Denny's for 540 calories.
    Or go to a place that has grilled chicken/fish/steak with veggies: Chili's has a 6 oz Sirloin for 250 calories.
    I also like the Australian Outback for small steak and veggies.
    Good luck on your trip.
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    Wawa is only in the NJ, PA maybe DE area though.

    Actually, they are also in MD, southern NY, VA, and Tampa and Orlando FL. Hubby works there, so I know my WAWA
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    If I'm eating fast food I love the Southwest Salad from McDonalds. It doesn't even need dressing and is like 290 calories. The chicken flatbreads from Wendy's are ok too.
  • emmooney235
    emmooney235 Posts: 85 Member
    Applebee's had an Under 550/Weigh Watchers menu that is good.

    IHOP also has a Light/Weight Watchers selection as well.

    Love Panera Bread, and depending on the area of the country it's St. Louis Bread Co.

    Noodles can be ok as long as you order the small serving.
  • tsetterholm
    tsetterholm Posts: 4 Member
    WaWA is also in VA :)
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Loving the Wawa love here! They just opened a new one about 50 feet from my office door. I'm so happy.
  • rjmudlax13
    rjmudlax13 Posts: 900 Member
    Shake Shack in NYC!
  • askeates
    askeates Posts: 1,490 Member
    Panera is definitely my favorite choice for if I need to be quick. The fact that they have the calories on the menu is an added bonus and helps me change my mind :wink:

    I have also found that most of the chain restaraunts have a "lighter side" portion to their menu. I will often times choose a steakhouse, like Longhorn, Outback or Texas Roadhouse. Even if you don't take the time before going to lookup their nutrients online, the food is pretty straight forward.

    Oh, and we have WaWa's in MD, along with Sheetz.... they both have great MTO's!

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