rant on restaurants

iryshjones
iryshjones Posts: 79 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I went to lunch with a friend today. We decided to go to Swiss Chalet .... we thought we could get some healthy choices there.
I ordered the chicken vegetable stir fry with rice. It was very tasty and I was patting myself on the back until i went to log my meals.

WTF ???????????????

27g of fat! 25g of sugar!

why do restaurants do this?????? how do you take a simple healthy meal and turn it into a unhealthy nightmare!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

Replies

  • Kimjanebrooks
    Kimjanebrooks Posts: 253 Member
    Oh, i'm glad you started this topic off!!!! lol. I've only been dieting for a week but my 17 year old son has been dieting since January and has managed to lose nearly 60lbs!

    Whenever we go out for meals (which isnt very often) he always chooses the healthy option, but on many occasions it is just a child's size plate of normal meal! Last time he chose spagetti bolognaise and it wouldnt have filled up a 3 year old! Since then he always chosen a jacket potato with grilled chicken and salad, but has to ask them not to put on the oil filled dressings.

    When dieting you find many delicious low fat recipes to choose from so why cant restaurants?? All restaurants are now doing a vegetarian menu so why not a proper low fat menu. I'm sure if they did a lot more people would go out for meals knowing that they werent sacrificing their hard earned work.
  • LittleMissDover
    LittleMissDover Posts: 820 Member
    Because they care about profits not waistlines. It's much cheaper for them to make a meal tasty using fat and sugar.

    Do your research before you go, decide where you're going, look at the cals etc listed on here and decide that way.
  • Lrdoflamancha
    Lrdoflamancha Posts: 1,280 Member
    Check out the book. Eat This Not That. The author tells you specifically what to eat at specific restaurants. Also which restaurants provide the healthiest options. SUBWAY and which are the worst CHEESECAKE FACTORY.
  • jerbear1962
    jerbear1962 Posts: 1,157 Member
    Having cooked for many restaurants I'll tell you that you need to have something to draw the customer back. Foods with a bit more salt or a bit more sugar adds the flavor that draws a customer back over and over. If you know you're going out to eat and know where you can research their menus online for the most part. Words to look out for are slathered, dripping, set atop, pan gravies, topped, each of these have added calories or fat. Look for roasted, baked, steamed, boiled and always know you can ask the waitress any questions you may have and you may be able to request that a food be cooked a certain way.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Most of these chains have nutritional information on their web sites or available on request....

    http://www.swisschalet.ca/nutritionals.php

    The fat and sugar aren't that shocking but 1980mg of sodium exceeds Health Canada's daily RDA.

    Ultimately it's up to your to do your homework, restaurants are in business to make money and you make money by selling things people want.
  • iryshjones
    iryshjones Posts: 79 Member
    thanks for all the suggestions .... no more impulse lunches .... and i am going to buy that book!
  • GmeB
    GmeB Posts: 70 Member
    I work in a restaurant,and the only thing I can suggest is requesting that your order be specialized to fit your needs. No butter,cheese,prep,etc..... We never mind changing things up for you.I'm sure you'll run into places that won't,be aware of them,and avoid them
  • jenshoeee
    jenshoeee Posts: 29 Member
    TGI Fridays and Chili's have a few really good, healthy options. They're tasty and won't kill your diet. I love going to those places. Make sure when eating out, you avoid drinking soda. Free refills are bad news bears! I always drink 2-3 glasses of water, with a side of lemons.

    Also, one word, SUSHI, Yum yum yum yum.

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