Going to Olive Garden for dinner

bjsquires

My husband and I are going out to Olive Garden with some friends tonight. Any suggestions as to what to eat?????????

melsinct

Their nutrition info is online:

http://www.olivegarden.com/menu/nutrition/

dmcw19

Hi,
I love their seafood brodetto. It is basically a seafood stew. It is only 480 calories. It has a good amount of sodium, so if you are watching that, it might not be the best. Their salad dressing isn't that bad on calories if you ask for it on the side, so you don't have to drench it.
I always stay away from the breadsticks and pasta because of the amount of calories. Hope you enjoy yourself.

smcolton

Check out the apricot chicken. It is delish!

marbit

I am probably gonna get creamed for this, but I say eat whatever you want, but keep in mind that their portion sizes are gigantic. By default I always ask the server to bring me a to go box right away and immediately after my plate arrives I split the meal in half and put half of it to go, and then eat the rest. That way I'm not tempted to gorge on the entire thing (which I have been known to do!). And skip the breadsticks, even though they are basically heaven in bread form!

Hellbent_Heidi

Defintiely ask for the fat-free (or low-fat?) dressing. They don't tell you its an option, but the regular salad dressing is horrible there.

omma_to_3

When I go there, I eat very little the rest of the day and in one fell swoop consume all my calories LOL. It's worth it sometimes.

The cappelini pomodoro isn't bad if you want pasta (and only eat half of the dinner portion). I like to get the toasted ravioli appetizer and just have that for my meal LOL.

I absolutely LOVE their tiramisu but find the dolcini version to be delicious as well. I just skip the salad because it's loaded with so much - cheese, fattening dressing, croutons. If I'm going to waste my calories, it won't be on salad LOL.

MariaMariaM

Ask for their lunch menu. I always do this. Stay away from cream sauces. If you want pasta the capellini pomodoro is good. I like their appricot chicken. If you want soop, the pasta and fagioli is good and low in cals. Everything there is high in sodium.

Cindym82

do not eat the breadsticks, 178 for just one

lorierin22

Defintiely ask for the fat-free (or low-fat?) dressing. They don't tell you its an option, but the regular salad dressing is horrible there.

I would get soup instead of salad...the minestrone is really good and far fewer calories than the salad (if you get regular salad dressing--I didn't know they had low-fat either). The pastas on the kid's menus aren't too bad as far as calories are concerned (If they let you order off that--i haven't tried yet, but I'm going to the next time I go).

Chood5

Defintiely ask for the fat-free (or low-fat?) dressing. They don't tell you its an option, but the regular salad dressing is horrible there.

Why low fat?

infamousmk

Whatever you want that fits in your calories for the day? That's what I'd do... make sure to check the website to get an idea of what might fit best for you.

JGT2004

I went with my son (who is 6)... And ordered what I wanted off the kids menu & what he wanted off the adult (he is extremely active and has a huge appetite). He ate the plate of spaghetti & 2 baskets of breadsticks (1500+ calories) while I enjoyed the kids fettucine. The kids portions are still big enough to satisfy an adult hunger! I just don't know if you can order off the kids menu when you have no kids with you as I know some places refuse to let you.... :grumble: When that happens I do box up at least 1/2 - 2/3 of the meal before I start shoveling in! Good Luck and enjoy!