Eating out at Olive Garden tonight..HELP

josavage

I like the apricot chicken and I have salad but no bread sticks.

estrange22

Eat a light snack before you go....do not eat the salad unless you get a seperate one with dressing on the side, skip the bread and order something broiled or grilled with nothing creamy. Enjoy whatever you end up with!

katiemo13

Just at there last night with my book club friends. I planned it out ahead of time. I got the cheese ravioli with marinara and ate half of it. I had one bread stick and one serving of salad to go with it. It all added up to just a little over 700 calories. But the sodium was still outrageous!! It is just hard to go out to eat.

lovelysummerbabe2012

I would eat whatever I want, Just not to much of it.
c:

rustyguy

A small order of Capellini Pomodoro with a grilled chicken breast.

hollyk57

This post is making me want breadsticks and fettuccine alfredo... boo
But like the others said, check the nutrition facts on their website. Apricot Chicken, Capellini Pomodoro, Salad and healthy soup like minestrone, skip the bread... Or just workout ahead of time and relax and enjoy yourself

poundis

Pasta e fagioli soup is 130 calories with lots of protein and fiber in it. Minestrone soup is 100 calories per bowl. I went last night and had the Venetian apricot chicken. It was very good and 400 calories. I also thought of having the parmesan crusted tilapia and it is 590 calories. Unfortunately, everything has a ton of sodium in it. They do have a light Italian dressing for the salad but I am not sure of the calorie content. I have a nutrition guide but it is not in there. Enjoy your dinner!

crazedcujo

Feel free to BASH ME GOOD!
I can take it.
ok, here we go
I never go to a fabulous place like Olive Garden and count calories.
Call it a "free day" - whatever.
And I used to go out to eat at least once per day, but now?
Twice monthly. I am WEAK! I just can't go to Olive Garden and eat some healthy, tasteless dish of Blah!
I eat like a government mule. LOVE IT!
Whatever you decide, enjoy and good luck:flowerforyou:

^^ agree

CharityEaton

olive garden is AWFUL on the sodium...drink plenty of water ALL DAY!

HappieHippie360

i had this same situation earlier in the week...work team meeting at freaking olive garden...lol. so i reminded myself that i was going to focus on enjoying the people and the conversation...i was not there to binge out on pasta. i went to the olive garden website and made my plan...and rehearsed it over and over in my head. here is the thing...i LOVE the breadsticks so i knew i was going to want one so i planned on having ONE. I ordered the soup and salad...asked for the salad with the dressing on the side. I had two bowls of the salad with a very small amount of the dressing on it and avoided the croutons, i put one breadstick on my plate and let it hang out...knowing that i was going to eat it but didnt gobble it down, then i had the minestrone soup, and slowly ate my breadstick with my soup...this was 550 calories...also, all of the listed items are already in the MFP database and match the website.

cassavaca

i get the minestrone soup and eat a crapload of salad (ask for NO DRESSING)

I am suggesting the same, Minestrone soup is very low in cals and when ordering the salad, do not eat the croutons, and ask for no dressing on yours. They do have oil and vinegar (balsamic i think) that you can use for yourself. Pass on the cheese if you can.

Tonnina

Don't have the salad, it's WAY more calories than you think because they DRENCH it in dressing. Have one HALF of a bread stick (150 calories) if you must and enjoy the Zupa Tuscana soup... It's like 150 calories I think. I always get the Mushroom Ravioli, it's around 700 calories, but if you eat half (They give you SO much!) it's really more like 350... But If you are satisfied with just soup, I swear, that Zupa Tuscana soup is SO amazing. It has sausage, kale and potatoes in it... sure it's high in salt, but you were planning on drinking a lot of water weren't you?

corrinnebrown

Try to get any dressing on the side for the salad and STAY away from the breadsticks 1 has 150 calories.

mgram2

Venetian Apricot Chicken. 400 calories for the entire dinner plate size. Yummmmmmyyy!
Also.. pass on the salad AND breadsticks. These will BOTH hurt you in the cal department.

Brittmy

Minestrone soup is only 100 calories, so have 2 bowls if you want + Salad with dressing on the side + maybe one breadstick. Don't eat that little chocolate at the end though haha. That'll surprise you when you log it. :-) That should keep you under 500 calories, no problem. My mom always does get the venetian apricot chicken too, and she likes it.

galegetsthin

Well, if you are eating out at Olive Garden, might I suggest a secluded corner booth?

amanda3588

I got this!! I served there back in college:

Lunch size capellini pomodoro, sub wheat linguine (pasta tossed in diced tomatoes, olive oil, spices,etc and is one of my favorites)

Apricot chicken (its chicken glazed in apricot sauce served with broccoli and asperagus), or you can sub one of the veggies for whole wheat pasta with the apricot glaze

Minestrone soup - so low in calorie, but high in sodium

Salad - Non-fat dressing on the side (trust me, they drench the salad in dressing, so its better on the side so you have control)

No breadsticks - those thinks are a fat factory

OR get what you want in the lunch sized portion (yes, you can order lunch sizes at dinner), but fill up on salad first.

samntha14

You've gotten some great suggestions here. You can always look at their online menu and input choices into the MFP database for additional info. I just did it myself for lunch later.

BringingSherriBack

Linguini alla marinara is 430 calories, and very good! Bread sticks are 150 calories, I believe. I would just skip the salad.

Good choice. You could have soup instead of the salad and try to limit yourself to just one breadstick. Just check to see which soup is lowest in calories.

cutethang1

You can reduce the calories on anything by potion control, however the sodium on all the entrees will be tough. If you are going to partake, then by all means enjoy. If you are trying to stay on your target macros if you do partake you may want to eat very light the rest of the day as your sodium will definitely be high.

Spanaval

I don't generally eat at chain restaurants, but do eat out a lot because of having to entertain clients. Generally, here is what I do.

1. Plan ahead. Check out the menu. If it is available, look at the nutrition information, and make decisions (and back-up plans). If the nutrition information is not available, do the best approximation with the menu information provided. Don't forget to look at the calorie information for drinks.

2. Once you know how much your meal will likely be, calorie wise, find a way to make allowance for it. Either order stuff that would fit in with your daily quota, or exercise more the entire week, the day of, the day after, etc. to buy yourself some buffer, or eat 100 or 150 calories less a day for a week so you end up with a bunch of extra calories for a splurge meal.

3. Eat in moderation. Portion sizes tend to generally run big (especially in chain/family style restaurants), so eat a small portion and take home the rest. Bonus being that you've got yummy food that you didn't have to cook yourself to eat for the next day or two.

4. If you go off the deep end and overeat, it's okay. Not the end of the world, and one meal is not going to negate all your work unless you let it derail you.

Personally, I'm not going to good restaurants with fabulous chefs and pay them good money to feed me salad. I eat everything I want - fresh bread, appetizer, entree, dessert - without guilt because I've already made allowance for it. It might be a 1500 calorie meal, but so what?

Krys_140

Whatever you order ask to split it in a half before they serve, and bring the rest to you in a to go box.
I did that with Montana Grill last weekend

^^^^This. I do this all the time, and it works like a charm.

Related: I've also tried simply asking for a 1/2 portion at a reduced price. Most chains cannot accommodate, but most of the local restaurants are really good about it. You don't quite pay 1/2 price, but then again, you're not bringing home 1/2 of a high calorie meal, either.

pinthin87

Don't eat the bread and get the pasta figoli or minestrone soup it will fill you up and is low in calories. Just make sure you drink enough water because the sodium content is high there no matter what you eat. They also have an awesome grilled salmon with grilled veggies that is fairly healthy.

Oh and if you have to have dessert get the dolci piccolini (mini dessert). Each one is like 150-250 cals and is just enough sweetness to satisfy you without going overboard.

rodneyderrick

I honestly wouldn't go.

I try not to criminalize any particular foods, and go with the eat in moderation approach; however, Olive Garden cuisines are loaded with carbohydrates, salts, and sugars. The people that eat this kind of food habitually are usually more than a little overweight. For example, my wife and I went to the Olive Garden on our sixteenth wedding anniversary. She was dying to go, and I was aiming to please her, so I could make it through the day without any unnecessary arguments. When we walked into the establishment, there wasn't a skinny person in the place except for my wife and I. I'm not saying this to joke or make fun, but it looked like an obesity convention. The woman who took us to our table had to squeeze between the tables to seat us. She sounded like Darth Vader in his mask. I ordered chicken with all the fixings on the side, and threw what I didn't eat in the trash. No reason to bring death home.

ttillman19

Thank you all fo the help. To the person who asked about what I am holding....yes this is my huge c***. His name is Eddy and is a show chicken. To the people who suggested I just do not go..that is not an option. This is one of my best friends who is graduating college after her husband got laid off and needed a better financial situation for her family. I have been planning for this all week by making sure to not go over my calories. As funny as it sounds sodium is not a big concern of mine. I am the weird obese person with low blood pressure who has been instructed to up my sodium to keep my blood pressure above 100/50. I am going to check the website for nutritional content, but that does not tell me if the food tastes like crap. I would like to be able to eat out every once in a while and would rather eat less of something that tastes good than more of what takes like cardboard. I also wanted some support, and you guys supplied that. I am the caretaker of my husband who suffered a gun shot wound through his left eyebrow that went almost all the way through his brain and is lodged about an inch from the back of his skull. We also have a 3 year old son, so I do not get out very much let alone with "normal adults" who do not treat me like he is dead. I also work from home, so no social contact there either. Thank you all for your help and encouragement.

TheNewDodge

Olive Garden is gross. I'd pass

kcmomof2

Their menu and nutrition information is available online. I typically stick to the minestrone soup and salad (sans the dressing) when I go there.

Good luck finding something that suits you and enjoy.

davidwh79

To me it's simple. Just go out and enjoy your self. Eat a meal from the menu, and relax. Don't go nuts and order the most glutenous thing on the menu, but don't feel inhibited either. I don't feel that any "diet" is beneficial or realistic if it cannot afford you an occasional meal that is a special engagement. Also, anyone that says Olive Garden is not a good restaurant with good food either doesn't know good food, doesn't like Italian, or has some personal agenda against the restaurant. I love their food.

TheNewDodge

To me it's simple. Just go out and enjoy your self. Eat a meal from the menu, and relax. Don't go nuts and order the most glutenous thing on the menu, but don't feel inhibited either. I don't feel that any "diet" is beneficial or realistic if it cannot afford you an occasional meal that is a special engagement. Also, anyone that says Olive Garden is not a good restaurant with good food either doesn't know good food, doesn't like Italian, or has some personal agenda against the restaurant. I love their food.

lol @ olive garden = italian

sundaywishes

This is from muffintop-less.tumblr
Her blog is one of my favorite go to blogs for advice, inspiration and motivation


My Tips for Eating Out at a Restaurant When Trying to Stick to Your Diet! (If this is your cheat meal, then obviously some of these things may not need apply).

•Don’t go starving. You are less likely to choose the greasiest, most unhealthy thing on the menu if you don’t go to the restaurant ravenous. Have a small snack consisting of protein about an hour or so before you leave.
•Avoid the bread basket or chips and salsa. It’s easy to mindlessly fill up on the empty carbs before your meal even arrives. The chips and bread can add hundreds of calories to what could have been a low-calorie night out.
•Skip the appetizer. As with the bread basket, it can add hundreds more calories and probably a lot more UNhealthy fats and simple carbs to what could be a healthy night out. If you do pick an appetizer, choose something that isn’t fried or packed with things like full fat cheeses.
•If you order a salad before your meal, be aware that while most side salads ARE low in calories (if they aren’t littered with nuts, dried fruit, cheese or croutons)… most dressings are LOADED with sugar and fat. Avoid creamy dressings like ranch, blue cheese and thousand island. Choose vinaigrettes instead. While vinaigrettes can still be high in calories, fat and sugar, they are the “safer” choice.
•The above-mentioned guideline about side salads applies to regular salads as well. A lot of people assume if they order a salad, they are choosing something healthy and relatively low in calories. Think again! Most salads can pack more calories, sugar and fats than a burger and fries combined! Things like dried fruit, nuts, full-fat cheeses, croutons and other toppings will make what was originally a low calorie, low fat, low sugar bowl of lettuce/spinach and turn it into a mound of calorie overload. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t order a salad, it just means you should be aware that you are not necessarily choosing something that will work with your daily macros/calorie intake.
•Avoid ordering foods that have any of these words before them: breaded, battered, crispy, crunchy, crusted, buttered, cheesy, country-style, creamy, glazed, gooey, honey-dipped, melted, smothered or fried. These are all extremely good indicators of un-healthy, fat, carb and sugar-loaded junk!
•Look instead for options that contain the following: baked, broiled, roasted, fresh, multi-grain, broth, seared, poached, grilled, sautéed, spiced, and steamed.
•Don’t be afraid to ask the server for the nutrition facts menu. California is required to provide one I believe (I see them all over now!) That way you can make an even more specific choice! This way, you can also scope out substitutes for some of the ingredients and/or sides that your meal comes with!
•Also, don’t be afraid to ask for things on the side! Dressings, marinades, high-calorie toppings and adders, syrups and other extras can be more easily controlled if you can put them on yourself! Don’t add salt! I can almost GUARANTEE whatever you wind up ordering will likely come loaded with salt.
•Restaurants are notorious for WAY overdoing the portion sizes. Save half or more of your meal for later! That way you can get two or more meals out of it! You can ask the server to pack half of it up before it even gets to your table. (Or if you have the will-power, eat half and ask for a to go box after).
•Also, consider ordering something to split with a friend, family member or significant other! That way you don’t have to worry about carry the leftovers home and you can both enjoy a lighter dinner!
•Lastly, skip dessert. You’ll be glad you did. Some single slices of cheesecake and other goodies can pack more than 1,000 calories!!!
While you might be thinking “I don’t want to be annoying by asking for all kinds of ingredients on the side”… don’t. If the restaurant had been smart enough to provide healthier options, they wouldn’t have had to worry about people ordering substitutes and giving special instructions. In addition, remember that many people with severe food allergies also must ask the server to have the food prepared sans their allergen! Don’t be shy about speaking up! If it’s a first date or something, I might understand the hesitation… but even still… don’t be afraid to ask nicely for what you want!

Edit: Sorry that was so long!!