Restaurant Shame List

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Replies

  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
    Don't get me wrong guys, I agree, no one forces me to eat at any of those places. My point was more how some of these places take something that on the surface you'd think was a fairly healthy dinner and turn it into something that is out of control and really screws up your day. For example a grilled chicken breast that somehow is 560 calories (by itself before you add the side dishes) and has 22 grams of fat (12 saturated). I mean seriously, you have to try to make a chicken breast that screwed up.

    So I'm not saying a shame list in terms of boycotting or whatever (I pretty much avoid those restaurants except when I know I'm prepared calorie wise or want to splurge) but rather just point out how careful you need to be when you do decide to eat at them. Like someone else mentioned, download the nutritional information before you go in and know what you're going to get.
  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
    CPK has the best salads... I go for the 1/2 Miso Salad with Shrimp... under 500 calories!!!

    Cheesecake Factory has a fabulous menu called "Skinnylicious"... really good stuff and still big portions

    I agree TGIF should just burn down. Even if I wanted fatty foods, I wouldn't pick that craptastic chain

    Applebees is GROSS with a capital G

    Fried Chicken Places: KFC, Popeye's and Cane's

    Here's one that needs to go away: Long John Silvers..... WTF is this?

    See I like Applebees because they at least make a token effort. Their under 550 menu has a few options and is actually pretty good. The Sirloin and Garlic Shrimp is actually pretty good IMO (other than the Sodium which of course is something all restaurants seem to have issues with).
  • The amount of sodium in the average subway sandwich...
  • _Tristan_
    _Tristan_ Posts: 221 Member
    Cheesecake Factory. They have a new "skinny" menu but their regular menu is horrible... and so good...
  • ipag
    ipag Posts: 137
    After watching the movie Waiting, I can't go to any place that closely resembles the restaurant "Shenanigans" so TGI Fridays, Chili's, Applebee's are all out.
  • SyStEmPhReAk
    SyStEmPhReAk Posts: 330 Member
    Don't get me wrong guys, I agree, no one forces me to eat at any of those places. My point was more how some of these places take something that on the surface you'd think was a fairly healthy dinner and turn it into something that is out of control and really screws up your day. For example a grilled chicken breast that somehow is 560 calories (by itself before you add the side dishes) and has 22 grams of fat (12 saturated). I mean seriously, you have to try to make a chicken breast that screwed up.

    So I'm not saying a shame list in terms of boycotting or whatever (I pretty much avoid those restaurants except when I know I'm prepared calorie wise or want to splurge) but rather just point out how careful you need to be when you do decide to eat at them. Like someone else mentioned, download the nutritional information before you go in and know what you're going to get.

    ^^ True! It's crazy how before i was aware of nutrition and how to monitor what goes into my body i was totally unaware of what was really "healthy" at some of these places.
  • Arby's chicken salad sandwich they claim is healthy since it has fruits and nuts in it.... its basically the highest calories on the menu. i have seen several of my friends on facebook say "just ate a delish and healthy chicken sald sandwich from arbys" ummm. no, you didn't.

    i do love their JR ham and cheese which is a good bit below 500 calories.... may not be the healthiest thing in the world.... but when you're out and about, you gotta handle your hunger. ;)
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,691 Member
    the cheesecake factory. One of my absolute favorite places to eat but it is just astonishing to me now to know how horrible everything is for you.

    also olive garden. bless them but its just bad. deliciously bad.
  • hoch5045
    hoch5045 Posts: 15 Member
    You can go to Qdoba and get a naked chicken burrito and keep cheese off it, and it will run you about 400 calories, watch what you eat and don't overindulge.
  • MyM0wM0w
    MyM0wM0w Posts: 2,008 Member
    Cheesecake Factory is the WORST! Portion sizes are out of control!



    Do they charge extra if you don't eat it all?

    /gigglesnort
  • sheila569
    sheila569 Posts: 269 Member
    TGI Friday's came off my list of places to go last year.
    Since Cheesecake Factory came out with their "skinnylicious" menu they have some options on there... just not the cheesecake

    Places like Jose Tejas and Carraba's that do not list their nutritional content either on line or in the restaurant piss me off.
  • weeblex
    weeblex Posts: 411 Member
    Applebee's
    Texas Roadhouse
    Friendly's

    I mostly eat at non-chain restaurants and I never know the calorie counts at those!

    Got to disagree on the Texas Roadhouse one, you just need to look at the menu and pick smartly. They have some way over caloried stuff, but I had the Fillet, a baked potato with butter and a house salad and came in at about 800 calories which I thought was an awesome count considering :)

    I have to admit though, if you get the blooming onion, and your steak loaded with cheese, and your potato loaded with bacon and cheese you are probably going to go over, but we are all smarter than that :)
  • melainemelaine
    melainemelaine Posts: 127 Member
    When eating out, as long as i can get a mixed greens or spinach salad with grilled chix breast(2) and dressing on the side (i don't eat it) the menu can have toxic sludge and I'd be ok with it. However, on cheat days... I'll eat anything! :bigsmile:

    I would!

    Oh, that wasn't the question, was it :blushing:
  • coliema
    coliema Posts: 7,646 Member
    I'm guessing that basically all chain restaurants are on the shame list..
  • Dethea
    Dethea Posts: 247 Member
    Cheesecake Factory
  • misticache
    misticache Posts: 364 Member
    Buffalo Wild Wings
    Chipotle (which you'd think is good but nope)
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    Is there one here on MFP or anywhere else? I think we need one. I'm thinking a list of chain restaurants that should be publicly shamed (and their CEO's potentially Flogged) for their uncanny ability to take seemingly healthy foods and make them calorie laden, fat gorged dining enigmas from hell. If anyone else is interested, here's a few that I'd nominate for that list early on:

    Chili's - By far the most hideous minefield of a menu. Almost all their meals are well over 1000 calories and many exceed 2000.
    California Pizza Kitchen - I think there's like two meals below 1000 calories
    Qdoba - I love Qdoba but seriously how do you turn a chicken burrito into an 1100 calorie entre

    Thoughts? Do you disagree? Is this the lamest topic ever?

    add TGI Friday to the list..in the UK they even refuse to tell you the nutritional content of their food and get a standard crappy email from their marketing department saying how they are happy to accommodate customers with specialist diets.

    totally lame!
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    Applebee's
    Texas Roadhouse
    Friendly's

    I mostly eat at non-chain restaurants and I never know the calorie counts at those!

    Applebee's has several options where the calories are displayed right on the menu. They are actually probably the easiest place to order without pre-planning.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    The worst thing about restaurant foods are overuse of salt and butter/oil. That's what makes it taste so freaking good to get you wanting more! Even healthy entrees may be lower calorie because of less butter/oil, but they are usually still crazy high in sodium. All restaurants are guilty, from the local diner to a chain to fine dining. It can't be escaped. That's why it's supposed to be a treat to go to restaurant, not an every day occurance. My family and I used to eat out 3 or more times per week which we have greatly cut back on!
  • ninakir88
    ninakir88 Posts: 292 Member
    I think no matter where you go, you can always customize it to your likings and make it SOMEWHAT healthy :)