Olive Garden
rocksyraeis
Posts: 194
fast beforehand so i can keep my calorie deficit? Or workout more to allow the calories? Or are there dishes that i can have that wont destroy my calorie goal?
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Replies
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I know they have a few dishes that won't kill you, but whenever I know I'm going out to eat, I exercise a little more so I don't have to limit myself as much as to what I can/can't have.0
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Soup and salad!! The zuppa is FANTASTIC! Try looking it up on the Food Datebase. I would say stay away from the breadsticks. It is hard to just have one and those are high in calories. Plan ahead and maybe do some sort of work out later on today just in case you over indulge
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careful with the salad. The salad is my FAVOURITE thing there but the dressing is a calorie monster! stay away from the cheese dishes, they also now have the calorie count right on the menu 0
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I always get the soup and salad, but the apricot chicken is not a diet killer and tastes good too.0
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http://www.olivegarden.com/menu/nutrition/
this has then entire menu with the nutrirtion facts break down0 -
Get the salad with the dressing on the side and that way you can control how much of it you eat.0
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-Cheese ravioli with marinara sauce
-Linguine alla Marinara
-Grilled Chicken Spiedini
-Mussels di napoli
-Ravioli di portobello
-Herb-Grilled Salmon
-Parmesan Crusted tilapia0 -
If you want an entree box it up! Right at the beginning of your meal or split it on your plate before eating. I got Capellini Del Mare last week and it was about 350 split in 2. You can have the pasta and salad and bread! Just portion control it!0
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You could always go to their website... Most generally have nutritional information there... Without checking it out personally, I would assume the eggplant parmesan would be at least fairly decent for you... stay away from the salads there though... while they are sooooo yummy... they pack more calories into that salad dressing than seems humanly possible0
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Did you know that their salad has more calories than their soups? Yep.0
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Check the menu ahead of time and decide what you want. Check your diary for the day and see if you have room for it., deciding in advance to bring half of it home. Work out in advance to make room in your day for it.
Order your item at the restaurant, *with a box at the same time for half of it*. Don't wait on the box. Ask at the same time to have half of it boxed. Trust me. They have heard it before. This is not new. Folks have been asking for this at least since 1989 when I first heard Jenny Craig recommend it. I doubt she was the first.
Enjoy.
Repeat as necessary for any restaurant meal.0 -
If you want an entree box it up! Right at the beginning of your meal or split it on your plate before eating. I got Capellini Del Mare last week and it was about 350 split in 2. You can have the pasta and salad and bread! Just portion control it!
That's what I'm saying. People have been doing this for ages. Just ask for half of it boxed in advance and they will be glad to do it. If they forget, ask as soon as it arrives. Trust me. It works and no strange looks.0 -
Skip it and use the calories at a decent Italian food restaurant. Olive Garden is to Italian food as McDonalds is to hamburgers. If you're going to eat out, eat something good. Just my opinion.0
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I say skip it if you can, eating at Olive Garden that is. Otherwise, workout.0
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I looked it up before I went to Olive Garden once, the minestrone soup is probably the best soup because it's all vegetables and no noodles. Definatley skip the breadsticks, those are HIGH calorie.
The best entree I found is the Apricot Chicken. Sounds kind of weird, but it's AMAZING and I was so happy with my choice. It is around 500 calories, but one of the lowest entree items. I don't rememeber if they let you choose the sides, but make sure you order the veggies!!! 0 -
I only get to eat out once in a blue moon so when i do eat there i indulge and add an extra 20 min to my workout But if you don't want to do that, soup and salad is the best bet.0
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fast beforehand so i can keep my calorie deficit? Or workout more to allow the calories? Or are there dishes that i can have that wont destroy my calorie goal?
Step up your exercise and water, conserve your calories for the dinner. IMO, it's a win-win. Just beware, the salad is healthy, the dressing is not! even the "light" dressing. you can probably ask for a 1/2 portion of pasta as well.0 -
Go to their website, all nutritional info is listed. also you can avoid the salad and bread sticks to save calories, and also only eat half the ridiculously large portions they serve.0
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Ravioli di portobello is AMAZING and not too awful for you! I'd definitely say workout more, though!0
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train fasted, burn more calories! Get the mixed grill at O.G. Take half home for lunch tomorrow.0
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-Cheese ravioli with marinara sauce
-Linguine alla Marinara
-Grilled Chicken Spiedini
-Mussels di napoli
-Ravioli di portobello
-Herb-Grilled Salmon
-Parmesan Crusted tilapia
I LOVE the Ravioli di Portobello. I get the lunch portion to make it a bit lighter!!0 -
The soups/salads (like minstrone, house salad) are good, and so is the Apricot Chicken. The Apricot Chicken is around 500 calories, but it's super filling and you probably won't finish it.. I know I finished like 1/2 of mine.0
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Their Venetian Apricot Chicken is awesome and very low calorie.0
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Skip it and use the calories at a decent Italian food restaurant. Olive Garden is to Italian food as McDonalds is to hamburgers. If you're going to eat out, eat something good. Just my opinion.
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Olive Garden is dangerous for a dieter, with their endless breadstix and bottomless bowls of high carb/ high calorie fare. If it's a family outing or something like that, you'll have to tough it out.0 -
careful with the salad. The salad is my FAVOURITE thing there but the dressing is a calorie monster! stay away from the cheese dishes, they also now have the calorie count right on the menu
^^This! I always get the dressing on the side. It is FULL of calories!!
Also ask for whole wheat pasta. They can substitute it for almost any dish.0 -
I like the Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, only 590 calories as served.
You can ask for the salad with the low fat dressing, and you can get that on the side as well, then the salad is pretty safe, under 100 calories a serving with the low fat dressing.
Avoid the breadsticks, they are 140 calories a piece, not worth it.0 -
What's everybody issue with the breadsticks? 150 is a fairly decent calorie count for bread. I always have a breadstick, whether I pair it with a pasta entree from the kids menu, a bowl of soup and some salad, or the Venetian apricot chicken. :P0
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I actually beg my server to be able to order off the kids menu...those portions are actually correct for most adults (I tell them I don't mind paying extra but that I'm dieting and there isn't a lot else I can have and they usually give in ;-)). Also I ask for oil and vinegar instead to dress my salad because their salad dressing is ridiculous with the calories.
I always leave room for one breadstick. It's my favorite part and worth the splurge. But that's just me. :-)0 -
work out and get a to-go box and bring half of the meal home, i wouldnt fast before, but just make healthy choices during the day0
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whenever I go out to eat I just get fish. stop dieting and just eat healthy.0
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