Oh my god! Chili's calories *faint*
yirara
Posts: 9,944 Member
We're meeting friends tonight at Chili's (no idea why they always chose fastfood outlets) and I just looked at the nutritional values of their food. OMG! How can it not be a crime to serve something like that? An appetizer with 1900kcal and 135 grams of fat and more salt than I eat in three days? O.o A salad containing nearly as much calories as I eat on a whole day!
Actually, it's great that they link to the nutritional info, but most things are not available in my local branch. *sigh* So I guess I should chose somewhat wisely and look through the whole thing.
Actually, it's great that they link to the nutritional info, but most things are not available in my local branch. *sigh* So I guess I should chose somewhat wisely and look through the whole thing.
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Replies
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When did chilis convert to a fast food restaurant? :O0
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Whatever it is, it's not fine dining.
been thinking about it: I guess it's something cultural. Where I come from, there are fastfood restaurants, dining rooms (not posh but good quality, simple food) and good restaurants. Everything that serves burgers and the unhealthy kind of food Chili's is serving is considered to be a fastfood restaurant, where fastfood refers not to fast serving but rather to poor nutritional value or quality of produce. Something like Chilis doesn't really exist in my home country, nor in any of the other countries I've lived in before, but would be called fastfood there.0 -
We're meeting friends tonight at Chili's (no idea why they always chose fastfood outlets) and I just looked at the nutritional values of their food. OMG! How can it not be a crime to serve something like that? An appetizer with 1900kcal and 135 grams of fat and more salt than I eat in three days? O.o A salad containing nearly as much calories as I eat on a whole day!
Actually, it's great that they link to the nutritional info, but most things are not available in my local branch. *sigh* So I guess I should chose somewhat wisely and look through the whole thing.
You are right about the salads. Most of the time, you can ask them to leave off three or four of the items and take the dressing on the side.
The salt will not wreck your diet. I have to watch out for the cheese they dump on stuff and for anything fried.0 -
yeah if you leave off dressing, croutons, meat and cheese the salad should be pretty safe.
And in US fast food typically = has a drive thru, but I can understand the concept behind calling chilis a "fastfood" restaurant as it serves much the same type of food as a fast food place but is a restaurant. Makes sense to me.0 -
I think I might take a simple sirloin steak or the margarita chicken with a side of black beans and tomato/onion salad. That's more than within my allowance as long as they only barbecue it and don't panfry it.
I might be a clichee, but what's the thing with putting cheese (and often it's not even real cheese) over everything? I'd think that if the produce is good it's best eaten pure. But that's how I've been brought up.0 -
Their nutritional information (the one on my local website) is off anyway. They list the Margarita Chicken without sides with 110 kcal @ 39 grams protein. Just sumning fat, prot and carbs together, this thing should have 266 kcal. Which in return calculates back to about 160 grams chicken or quite a bit less plus whatever they put over it.
The steak numbers sound about right, however, not for an 8oz steak but for a substantially smaller one.
LOL @ buckshot!0 -
next time you go there, choose fajitas and ask for corn tortillas or just skip the tortillas altogether and have a "salad" . you will still feel satisfied and it will be yummy but lower cal. we do this occasionally. ask for extra lettuce too.0
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Well, we're going there tonight. Then I'll ask my friends what they think about going out to somewhere more healthy. But then again, if I see that one person eats out there twice a week and goes for a big starter and the most caloric-heavy burger there I guess the answer will be 'no' . Best I could do is probably to steer the groups towards eating out at Nandos, considering there are many South Africans in the group who like to eat there.0
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Typically, if it's not in the 'lighter menu' (and Chili's has one), you can expect food to be 1000+ calories. Or just check their nutrition information before you go... You can get a cup of soup and the petite sirloin with broccoli for less than 450 calories (although I still have my doubts that their petite sirloin and broccoli is really the 250 calories they claim).0
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Couldn't you just share your portions with someone else? If a salad is 1000cal then surely you can split it with someone else and still have a sizeable portion.
Its a shame in the West meals in restaurants we all get individual plates and food isn't presented like it is in Chinese restaurants, it doesn't matter what you order it all gets dumped in the middle of the table on a lazy-susan and you all just dig in and take what you fancy and put it in your little rice bowl (not sure if its done the same in the states, but in the UK most decent Chinese restaurants bring out your food this way unless you ask for individual portions). This way you just order a range of dishes and everyone gets to try a bit. If you run out of food, just order more!0 -
I want my baby back, baby back, baby back ribs!!!
I'd go with their sirloin.0 -
I would love to organize the next coming together in a Lebanese restaurant: lots of cold meze like tabouleh, fatoush salad, hummus, labne, etc.. on the table, and then everyone can dig in. Not sure though if I can convince the guys...0
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Whatever it is, it's not fine dining.
No *kitten*, but it's certainly not fast food. Do they have a drive-thru? Do you order at a counter and wait for your food, and it comes up relatively quickly? Not at any Chili's I've been to.
I don't know about y'all, but I don't go to Chili's (or any restaurant like that) for the healthy meal options. I go because it tastes good. I'm going to go over my calories, but it's no big deal if I don't do it all the time.
Keep under your weekly goal instead of your daily goal and you'll be just fine. Live a little.0 -
Because I DON'T particularly like the food taste at any of these fern bars I always choose a small steak and vegetables, or a fish/chicken and vegetables. Any sauces on the side. Or, if that particular fern bar has a "diet" menu, I stick to that.0
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You can eat just about anywhere, as long as you plan ahead!0
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I haven't had chili's for 5-6 months
Craving paradise pie and cajun chicken burger0 -
I would opt for the lighter portions menu as well such as Grilled Chicken Salad (cal. 430) and maybe ask for olive oil and vinegar in place of the dressing it is served with ~depends on how strict you want to be, classic sirloin or probably the Lighter Choice Salmon (cal. 540) - Lightly seasoned seared Atlantic salmon. Served with rice & steamed broccoli.
Whatever you choose, you might want to start hydrating in advance and get water with lemon with the meal. At least you know you are making the best choice that you can in the situation otherwise just close your eyes & pick something-lol. Enjoy your time with your friends.0 -
When I go there and am actually paying attention to my calories, I usually go with a caesar salad. I think it's around 600-700 ish calories.0
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How big are the portions? I'm English so I've never heard of Chilli's. Maybe you could share with someone. I've only been to the US once and I remember the portions were massive.
Otherwise your idea of suggesting somewhere else is good. We went to a Turkish place last year, and that was pretty healthy, just chicken and veg on a skewer with salad and some Turkish bread. I went to a Maroccan place recently that was healthy too...a small portion of couscous with some sort of chicken dish.0 -
Typically, if it's not in the 'lighter menu' (and Chili's has one), you can expect food to be 1000+ calories. Or just check their nutrition information before you go... You can get a cup of soup and the petite sirloin with broccoli for less than 450 calories (although I still have my doubts that their petite sirloin and broccoli is really the 250 calories they claim).
Exactly, this holds true for A LOT of restaurants. And that meal mentioned, is basically what I get when I go there. Not sure if Chili's does this but anywhere with veggies make sure to say "steamed only, no butter" - irks when my veggies are swimming in a butta bath :explode:0 -
Whatever it is, it's not fine dining.
been thinking about it: I guess it's something cultural. Where I come from, there are fastfood restaurants, dining rooms (not posh but good quality, simple food) and good restaurants. Everything that serves burgers and the unhealthy kind of food Chili's is serving is considered to be a fastfood restaurant, where fastfood refers not to fast serving but rather to poor nutritional value or quality of produce. Something like Chilis doesn't really exist in my home country, nor in any of the other countries I've lived in before, but would be called fastfood there.
Around here, restaurants are classed as:
Fast food (counter service, drive through, not much variety on the menu, child friendly with play areas for kids),
Casual dining (table service, more menu items, still child friendly but they don't provide entertainment for kids except maybe crayons and a placemat. Examples:Chili's, Applebees, Olive Garden, Denny's, locally owned "family" restaurants)
Fine Dining (tablecloths, professional chefs, wine list, not child friendly)0 -
Here in the US fine dining restaurants aren't exactly "healthy", either. The nice thing is you can get main dishes and side diesh "a la carte" so you aren't stuck with side dishes you don't want. The bad thing is the side dishes are pretty much all full of fat and calories. Even the veggies usually come with a creamy or cheesy sauce. The salads have high-fat dressings and lots of calories extras like cheese, croutons, fried onions, nuts, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I love fine dining restaurants (although my wallet does not). i just wouldn't say they are necessarily "healthier" than fast food restaurants. No matter where you eat you need to make a conscious effort to choose the best options.0 -
I wonder if the word you are looking for is chain restaurant instead of fast food restaurant. Lots of chain restaurants have pre-packaged, frozen foods that they heat up in the "kitchen".
If you split your meal in half when you get it, that would probably help out as well. Just ask the server to bring the "to go" box with your meal, and do it right then and there. Or split meals with your friends.
Grilled meats and veggies are going to be your best bets calorie wise, but watch the sauces, and be prepared for some bloat the next couple of days from the very high sodium counts.
Most of all, enjoy the company of your friends, because that is what truly matters.0 -
How big are the portions? I'm English so I've never heard of Chilli's. Maybe you could share with someone. I've only been to the US once and I remember the portions were massive.
Otherwise your idea of suggesting somewhere else is good. We went to a Turkish place last year, and that was pretty healthy, just chicken and veg on a skewer with salad and some Turkish bread. I went to a Maroccan place recently that was healthy too...a small portion of couscous with some sort of chicken dish.
Generally they are large. A burger can often be made with 1/2 lb of meat. When I go to a place like Chili's, I usually order off the appetizer menu and have a plain salad with dressing on the side.0 -
1. Share an appetizer or split a meal.
2. Order something that has the lesser calories on the menu.
3. Order a salad, get the dressing on the side and maybe omit some of the items that are on it.
Or
4. Don't eat the entire meal.
There are plenty of ways to NOT consume that many calories when you go out to eat. What do you do when you go out to eat at a restaurant that doesn't post their menu items and calories some place? :huh: Yes you can find a "healthy" restaurant but the calories, fat, sodium can still be very high depending on what you get. Fancy =/= Healthier. You're deceiving yourself if you think so.0 -
At most restaurants, a Salmon dinner or 6 oz sirloin steak are the best options.0
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Last time I was at Chili's, they had a Mango-chile Tilapia that was actually pretty tasty, and had excellent macros. Roughly 600 calorlies. Or you could split a burger and fries with someone -- 1400 divided by two isn't bad. Just don't bother with appetizers (or the dreaded chips and salsa) and don't drink your calories.0
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next time you go there, choose fajitas and ask for corn tortillas or just skip the tortillas altogether and have a "salad" . you will still feel satisfied and it will be yummy but lower cal. we do this occasionally. ask for extra lettuce too.
Normally this is awesome advice that I use, too...but seriously, something NUTS is up with Chili's...I ordered spicy shrimp tacos with a black bean side, ate less than one of the 3 tortillas, and logging it my sodium was STILL through the roof and insane, calories were crazy too. Usually I think I can go for a healthier option but at Chili's I am not even sure that's possible unfortunately.0 -
Chili's is one of the worst for calories and sodium! There are hardly any smart choices to be had.
On the flip side Ruby Tuesday's is one of the better national chains for smart choices.0
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