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Salads and restaurants. YIKES!!

specialsong77
specialsong77 Posts: 78 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
OMG. I am seriously shocked. I chose a salad for lunch because I went to a restaurant and I wanted to make a healthy decision. I had the chicken cesar salad (hold the croutons), and a glass of ice tea. And that salad has over 1400 calories!!!!! Does anyone know of the bigger restaurant chains that have low calories salads?

Replies

  • specialsong77
    specialsong77 Posts: 78 Member
    OMG. I am seriously shocked. I chose a salad for lunch because I went to a restaurant and I wanted to make a healthy decision. I had the chicken cesar salad (hold the croutons), and a glass of ice tea. And that salad has over 1400 calories!!!!! Does anyone know of the bigger restaurant chains that have low calories salads?
  • ChubbyBunny
    ChubbyBunny Posts: 3,523 Member
    Caesar dressing is way bad.
  • 12by311
    12by311 Posts: 1,716 Member
    Chilis, Applebees,.....

    It really just takes reading the menu about what comes on salads.
    For example: you may think the Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad is a good idea. Grilled chicken, not so bad right? Then you notice it has sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, a side of a small cheese quesadilla, southwest dressing (usually salsa and ranch mix), corn, shredded cheese and so on. These things DO add up!

    Also, anytime a salad comes with dressing on it, you are definitely going to be set up for a nice little surprise when you check the calories on that particular meal.

    I like my salads nekked most of the time. I started eating like this years ago and nothing beats a nice mix of fresh, crisp veggies, in my opinion!
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    OMG. I am seriously shocked. I chose a salad for lunch because I went to a restaurant and I wanted to make a healthy decision. I had the chicken cesar salad (hold the croutons), and a glass of ice tea. And that salad has over 1400 calories!!!!! Does anyone know of the bigger restaurant chains that have low calories salads?
    Applebees *lunch size* spinach and shrimp salad isnt too bad ask for the dressing on the side it comes with soup get the tomato basil its low calorie...i will admit though it must be loaded with sodium because i felt simply horrid after eating it....taste was great...but the after effect killed it fo rme
  • RKA625
    RKA625 Posts: 151 Member
    I hate how deceiving salads can be. I usually try and look up the place online ahead of time to see what i can get that is low in calories.
  • Tiddle
    Tiddle Posts: 762 Member
    Chilis, Applebees,.....

    It really just takes reading the menu about what comes on salads.
    For example: you may think the Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad is a good idea. Grilled chicken, not so bad right? Then you notice it has sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, a side of a small cheese quesadilla, southwest dressing (usually salsa and ranch mix), corn, shredded cheese and so on. These things DO add up!

    Also, anytime a salad comes with dressing on it, you are definitely going to be set up for a nice little surprise when you check the calories on that particular meal.

    I like my salads nekked most of the time. I started eating like this years ago and nothing beats a nice mix of fresh, crisp veggies, in my opinion!

    yeah, if you want to get a salad you need to be careful, order w/o cheese, croutons, dressing on the side (or without dressing all together)

    there was a thread here a while ago about the worst restaurant salads... pretty scary!!
  • rebcolorado
    rebcolorado Posts: 47
    I always stay away with anything with cheese and a creamy dressing. I opt for grilled chicken and if there are other "toppings" I request all of them - including the dressing, on the side. I refrain from putting anything fried, creamy or cheesy on.
  • kristinlough
    kristinlough Posts: 828 Member
    If you're like me and want a little bit of dressing ... I find the dipping the fork tines into the dressing before picking up your veggies tastes PLENTY good and cuts my dressing use down to a quarter ... just a thought ...
  • specialsong77
    specialsong77 Posts: 78 Member
    If you're like me and want a little bit of dressing ... I find the dipping the fork tines into the dressing before picking up your veggies tastes PLENTY good and cuts my dressing use down to a quarter ... just a thought ...

    That is a really great suggestion! I am going to try that! Thank you!
  • specialsong77
    specialsong77 Posts: 78 Member
    Caesar dressing is way bad.

    It must have been the dressing and probably the shaved parmesian.... the chicken was grilled... that was a wake up call.
  • specialsong77
    specialsong77 Posts: 78 Member
    I hate how deceiving salads can be. I usually try and look up the place online ahead of time to see what i can get that is low in calories.

    I think i will be doing that from now on for sure... :wink:
This discussion has been closed.

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