Popular Restaurants with surprising calorie count
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I have found that I have to watch the SODIUM content in restaurant foods as much as if not more than calories. Especially the "light" dishes. They can make you retain sodium like there's no tomorrow, and your weight will appear to shoot way up temporarily. Personally, If I know I am going to be eating out and want to stay on the wagon, I look for meals with lots of veggies and ask them to serve all sauces on the side.
There are lots of ways to handle eating out, it depends a lot on your philosophy and goals. Unless it is a special occasion and you have decided to simply enjoy yourself without worrying about calories (which has its merits), some of these techniques may work:
1. Look up the restaurant's menu beforehand and decide what to order. I agree, some calorie contents are amazingly high compared to what you'd expect!
2. Ask for lots of water, and drink it.
3. Order soup (broth based) or salad (dressing on the side or not at all) and eat it/them as an appetizer or as the main course.
4. Stay away from items with lots of bread or sauces, especially cream and butter sauces. marinara sauce may be one exception.
5. Order what you want with a take-out box. Before eating even a bite, divide the meal in 1/2 and put 1/2 in the box. Eat the other half.
That said, I love to eat at Panera. They have some wonderful salads and soups, and they post calories on some of their menu items. Subway is my favorite sandwich shop (9-grain bread and no cheese or sauces keeps the calorie count lower and the sandwich more filling). anyplace such as Olive Garden, bringing "unlimited breadsticks and salad" are dangerous...that salad dressing at OG is crazy high in calories!
I have been afraid to do Olive Garden. I know they have a few good options, but the salad and bread is just too tempting still.0 -
Subway's calorie count is pretty good, but their sodium is ridiculously high. A 6" sandwich has almost half the recommended daily amount of sodium.
I couldn't believe how high it was the first time I was logging a Subway sub. Mr. Submarine is much, much better, but still higher than you'd expect from bread, cheese and veggies...0 -
Outback Steakhouse
Macaroni Grill
Cheesecake Factory
--And surprisingly--Taco Bell! I mean I know it's fast food, and no fast food is GOOD for you, but I was pretty shocked to learn that almost all of their stuff is pretty pricey, calorie-wise.
Outback is not too bad. If you do a 6 oz steak, and stick with the veggies (or maybe the salad), it isn't bad at all. I could do it even on Weight Watchers. But I did have to give up their garlic mashed potatoes.0 -
Chili's has a low-cal menu. I love the Margarita Grilled Chicken. I think the entire dish is 550 calories. I don't eat the tortilla chips, so it's probably a bit lower for me. It has grilled chicken, beans, wild rice (not much), and pico.Chilis and Olive Garden.0 -
Don Pablo's Mexican Kitchen is high in calories, fat and sodium... no matter what you order (salads included). I was disgusted when I looked at the nutritional content. Haven't been back.0
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When I am in the mood for McDonalds, I will just order a happy meal with a bottle of water. If I get the chicken nuggets(only 4 per meal) and one sauce, which I use about half, the calorie count stays around 300 or so. I just give the toy to a child I see at the restaurant(with parent's permission, of course)0
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steak and shake classic grilled chicken salad with low fat ranch dressing comes in at right about 340. It's a HUGE salad and it's yummy..and the 340 is from the steak and shake website0
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Alot of resteraunts have the Nutritional info posted online these days..
Either on their own site or on DWLZ.com (Dotties Weight Loss Zone) under resteraunts..
It can be a very usefull tool when planning on going out so
you don't get home and feel like you ruined your whole week...0 -
I ask for a side salad with the dressing on the side and ask them to NOT bring the bread sticks. I do the same at Texas Roadhouse(those rolls with the cinnamon butter are to die for). Problem solved. If they aren't in front of me, i can't eat them.0
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Taco Cabana. A vendor brings their breakfast burritos to work every Wednesday, and I used to grab a bean and cheese one. Then I got serious about this and logged it one day - 730 calories when I was expected 450-500. I was STUNNED - I still have no idea what they do to get the calorie count so high, soak the tortillas in lard??? Needless to say, I don't eat those anymore.0
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Tropical Smoothie is insane unless you order your drink without Turbinado.
Boston Market...I thought at least the rotisserie would be decent. Boy was I ever wrong.
Dunkin Donuts bagels and muffins will set you back further than many burgers.0 -
Outback's 6 ounce steak with seasonal veggies and a salad without croutons and with Tangy tomato dressing is 570 calories for the meal. Just tell the server you want it fixed "skinny style", i.e. no added butter. Well worth the calories for the whole meal.Outback Steakhouse
Macaroni Grill
Cheesecake Factory
--And surprisingly--Taco Bell! I mean I know it's fast food, and no fast food is GOOD for you, but I was pretty shocked to learn that almost all of their stuff is pretty pricey, calorie-wise.
Outback is not too bad. If you do a 6 oz steak, and stick with the veggies (or maybe the salad), it isn't bad at all. I could do it even on Weight Watchers. But I did have to give up their garlic mashed potatoes.0 -
I LOVE the Cheesecake Factory's Skinnylicious menu, the food is delicious and all under 600 calories for the entire meal.
I'm also a big fan of Zoe's Kitchen, they are ridiculously low cal, like to the point of if I made the dishes myself in my own kitchen, so they must not use much oil and fat.
Olive Garden, while rife with high calorie meals, also has a fair number of dinners under 800 calories, some under 600. Their dinner portions are huge, so I usually only eat the lunch portion size myself. Last time I was there I had some delicious seafood cannelloni's for under 600 calories.
What's surprised me the most has been salad dressings at restaurants. It seems like they must be injecting fats into the bottles of dressing.0 -
I've done that. I get the McNugget meal (no sauce) with apple slices and 2% milk. I keep the toy, though.When I am in the mood for McDonalds, I will just order a happy meal with a bottle of water. If I get the chicken nuggets(only 4 per meal) and one sauce, which I use about half, the calorie count stays around 300 or so. I just give the toy to a child I see at the restaurant(with parent's permission, of course)
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I was shocked by the calories in most salads! I know it all depends what is put on it and what dressing is used, but i never expected 800 cals for a salad0
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I was also surprised and disappointed with the calorie counts in Jimmy John's! I guess a lot of it can be attributed to their mayo and french bread that they put on most things.
Panera Bread came out with a chicken poppyseed salad that is FANTASTIC and it's only around 340 calories, though. I've been all up on that, it's so good.
IHOP has a lot of whole-grain stuff now, and turkey bacon and egg substitutes. They also have tagged healthy selections on their menu now with calorie counts, and most of them are under 600 calories. I went there today and was surprised that my favorite choice there was under 600 calories.0 -
Applebee's Weight Watcher entrees look enticing with fewer than 550 calories, but many have 3000mg or more of sodium! That's over a day's worth in one tiny meal!!! You will swell up eating a small amount of calories like that!0
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Worst place - Cora's.
No nutritional info. Don't even ask about it. When you pick apart your meal and log everything individually, that's your daily allotment or more in one shot. The healthiest thing I found is the Samira Wake-UP - mostly fresh fruits and comes with 2 thick slices of toast with about 3T of margarine/butter.
Biggest surprise - Domino's
They provide nutritional info online, breaking most things individually, though the macro numbers are a broad range (like a portion of sauce for medium pizza is 10-15 calories). I always err on the higher numbers. My regular order is a medium, thin crust (a tortilla) green pepper, onion, and cheddar cheese pizza with regular sauce.
As for Subway, I love it. I only get a 6" veggie on white, no cheese, no condiments. It's the lowest sodium sandwich with 38 carbs. I add cheese from home, either low sodium cheddar or Swiss.0 -
Ruby Tuesday has good "healthy" choices. Ate there last night and it was amazingly good!0
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I ask for a side salad with the dressing on the side and ask them to NOT bring the bread sticks. I do the same at Texas Roadhouse(those rolls with the cinnamon butter are to die for). Problem solved. If they aren't in front of me, i can't eat them.
Yum, love love love texas road house, I usually get the sirloin kabobs, with veggies and the side salad and ask for oil and vinegar so I can do my own dressing. Very reasonable price wise, calorie wise and delicious!!!!!
And yes, that cinnamon butter bread is to die for, I just take a pinch from one of my kids 0 -
Worst place - Cora's.
No nutritional info. Don't even ask about it. When you pick apart your meal and log everything individually, that's your daily allotment or more in one shot. The healthiest thing I found is the Samira Wake-UP - mostly fresh fruits and comes with 2 thick slices of toast with about 3T of margarine/butter.
Cora's is my favourite restaurant...EVER!!
i always get the sunshine crepe..and i dont know or care how many cals it is....i enjoy every...single....calorie... hahaha0 -
Taco Bell is actually not terrible. I personally get full really easy, and the Fresca menu is pretty good! Even a regular crunchy taco I think is like 170 calories. I can eat 2 of those and be full. However, I know people who have to eat a lot at Taco Bell in order to be full, so I guess it depends on how much you need to eat.0
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I really don't pay attention to calories for restaurants. I live 90 miles out of town so I am not around any restaurants on a daily basis. We usually go out once a week when we go to town to groceries and I make that my "free" meal.
That being said, Subway seems to be the best sandwich place - over quiznos and jimmy johns. Most restaurants seem really high in sodium. They also have "hidden" ingredients that can add up...like the ingredients that make up sauces or what things are cooked in.
It's possible to look up calories before you go and see what options there are but it's not always convenient or you change your mind.
JB's restaurant has calorie options listed on their menus. Granted, some say "500-700" which is based on the side you choose or whatnot. I like going there because even though I don't really care when I go to a restaurant, I can make better choices.0 -
I ask for a side salad with the dressing on the side and ask them to NOT bring the bread sticks. I do the same at Texas Roadhouse(those rolls with the cinnamon butter are to die for). Problem solved. If they aren't in front of me, i can't eat them.
Yum, love love love texas road house, I usually get the sirloin kabobs, with veggies and the side salad and ask for oil and vinegar so I can do my own dressing. Very reasonable price wise, calorie wise and delicious!!!!!
And yes, that cinnamon butter bread is to die for, I just take a pinch from one of my kids
That is what I get there and I LOVE IT! I bring my own fat free dressing. I have a couple rolls...no butter and just watch what I eat the rest of the day. All things in moderation and portion control.0 -
O'Charlies classic burger is less calories than their turkey burger! The 6 oz sirloin is less than half the calories of either of those!! Guess I'll get the sirloin next time!0
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Subway's calorie count is pretty good, but their sodium is ridiculously high. A 6" sandwich has almost half the recommended daily amount of sodium.
YES! I just found this out today. I was going over all my reports and after seeing the peaks and valleys I noticed I peaked on several counts: sodium, carbs...etc. on days when I ate out. Eating HOME is best. Something safe always in the purse JUST IN CASE.....0 -
I definitely check out the nutritional contents before I go. It's hard but can be done in a moderately not so crappy way!!!
1) Chili's--Classic Sirloin (as served) 250 calories, Margarita Grilled Chicken 550 calories
2) On The Border--Create your own combo, I usually do Chicken Tostada 130 calories and Guacamole Tostada 180 calories. I get the rice (280 calories) and beans (black-180 calories) on the side and don't eat them because I don't need them. I also have chips and salsa (1/2 order is 215 calories).
3) Buffalo Wild Wings--Grilled Chicken Buffalitos 380 calories (from website)
4) Chipotle--Barbacoa burrito bowl with brown rice, barbacoa, black beans, green tomatillo salsa, guacamole and lettuce--635 calories (not all that low but for an every once in a while treat it doesn't break the calorie bank).
5) Olive Garden--Soup--Minestrone 100 calories, Pasta e Fagioli 130 calories, Zuppa Toscana 170 calories (all per serving); Salad (1 serving) 150 calories; Stuffed Mushrooms (appetizer) 280 calories. There are actually quite a few under 500 calorie dishes if you look here!!!
You have to look and plan a little more but you can get reasonable meals at Jimmy John's, Subway and even McDonalds. Nutritionally none of these are the greatest but you can totally do it without breaking the bank!!!0 -
I know a lot of people stay away from baked potatoes because of the carbs but for those of us who love them, be careful at restaurants. I know for a fact that Texas Roadhouse roll their potatoes in bacon grease and salt before baking them.0
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Olive Garden heads up.... if you ask nice they will put steamed veggies in place of the pasta and you can get your sauce over that. I get the one with the spicy shrimp marinara (can't remeber the name) over the veggies (usualy broccoli & asparagus I think) and it's awesome.0
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I rarely eat at chains, because if I'm going to treat myself going out, it's not going to be at a place that's pulling their food out of a freezer
That being said, if I want the same thing as fast food... I'll do fast food. Kids meals at Wendy's or McDonald's are routinely 300-400 calories, or a grilled snack wrap, and even a small fry. I'm surprised about the Jimmy John's complaints--I always order the Veggie Club on the multigrain, no cheese, no mayo. The avocado takes care of the creamy, and the whole thing is under 350.0
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