restaurant and fast-food salads with more calories than a big mac and large fries.

I worked out the calories in a Chicken Caesar salad at a place I used to work, it was double the calories of the chicken parma with chips.

Well...most of these are either topped with fried foods or tons of cheese....not to mention, I'm sure they use full fat dressings...not that there's anything wrong with that, but most people in the know already know to get dressings on the side because they give you a *kitten* ton of dressing.

I'd personally never order a salad topped with fried food and oozing cheese and think I'm being "healthy"...but I do regularly eat salads in the 800 - 1000 calorie range. Calories aren't necessarily indicative of whether something is nutritious or not.

I swear to god I got fat eating salad. I thought, it's salad-I can put whatever on it. When I started using this site I was like...oh, poop.

The salads I make at home are 600-800 calories of delcious. I think they're better than a burger and more nutritious so meh

Its why I always go for the Pizza instead

Annnnd that is why I research nutrition information before I go out to eat. So I can choose the best food and not choose a salad and realize it had more calories then the burger I actually wanted.

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ithrowconfetti wrote: »

So true! Nowadays, I only order a salad if I can ask for the dressing and toppings to be put on the side. Ignorance is bliss, and I wish I never found out, growing up, that a potato/pasta salad is actually more starchy carbs than vegetables.

Well, you'll be happy to know then that starchy carbs aren't the devil or anything and you can go on enjoying potato and pasta salads...

cwolfman13 wrote: »

ithrowconfetti wrote: »

So true! Nowadays, I only order a salad if I can ask for the dressing and toppings to be put on the side. Ignorance is bliss, and I wish I never found out, growing up, that a potato/pasta salad is actually more starchy carbs than vegetables.

Well, you'll be happy to know then that starchy carbs aren't the devil or anything and you can go on enjoying potato and pasta salads...

I totally agree! I've always been a firm believer of eating all things in moderation. I used to make potato and pasta salads for social gatherings when I was younger, thinking I was contributing a "healthy" alternative to the pot luck, but a lot of people who were carb conscious told me that just because it's called a salad, doesn't mean it's healthy. So what do I do differently nowadays when people ask if I can bring salads? Absolutely nothing. I still bring potato and pasta salads, and incur the wrath of many. So yeah. Moderation to me is key, but it's just sad that many people don't feel the same way. Kinda sad to enjoy a big bowl of potato salad all on my own, when I enjoy feeding others too.

quesadilla explosion salad? lol, Chili's isn't even trying anymore

But yes OP, it's hard to believe how many people generally have zero clue about eating properly, portion control, etc.

Salads with chicken tenders, bacon, cheese, and ranch dressing are definitely going to have a ton of calories.

sheldonklein wrote: »

missiontofitness wrote: »

I tend to just eat 1/3 or 1/2 of the salad I choose at a restaurant. Tonight I'm getting one from the Texas Roadhouse that's nearly 800 calories and has a ton of fat, but eating half of it brings me down to a reasonable amount of fat and cals so I can fit it into the rest of my day.

I don't like to shy away from items based on their nutritional info. I just try to be smart, and eat a reasonable portion of what comes to the table. Not to mention, restaurant portions tend to have 2-3 servings on a plate. No need to clear your plate!

Salads are different. I can cut a piece of meat in half for the doggy bag, but not a salad. I had a calorie buster salad last night-greens, chicken, cheese, black beans, guacamole and then some. My best estimate was about 750 calories. I was overstuffed, but it never occurred to me to not finish the salad.

What I generally do is either get an extra plate, or just divide up the salad as best as I can, depending on how hungry I am. You really have to eyeball it, but it's become muscle memory for me to divide up and eat half of the salad, or portion it out so I know what I want to eat in the restaurant, and what I want to bring home.

missiontofitness wrote: »

sheldonklein wrote: »

missiontofitness wrote: »

I tend to just eat 1/3 or 1/2 of the salad I choose at a restaurant. Tonight I'm getting one from the Texas Roadhouse that's nearly 800 calories and has a ton of fat, but eating half of it brings me down to a reasonable amount of fat and cals so I can fit it into the rest of my day.

I don't like to shy away from items based on their nutritional info. I just try to be smart, and eat a reasonable portion of what comes to the table. Not to mention, restaurant portions tend to have 2-3 servings on a plate. No need to clear your plate!

Salads are different. I can cut a piece of meat in half for the doggy bag, but not a salad. I had a calorie buster salad last night-greens, chicken, cheese, black beans, guacamole and then some. My best estimate was about 750 calories. I was overstuffed, but it never occurred to me to not finish the salad.

What I generally do is either get an extra plate, or just divide up the salad as best as I can, depending on how hungry I am. You really have to eyeball it, but it's become muscle memory for me to divide up and eat half of the salad, or portion it out so I know what I want to eat in the restaurant, and what I want to bring home.

I think for me the key point is that - if the salad is what you want, have it and make it fit or only eat half, or whatever. But so many people are choosing the salad because they think it is the 'healthy' choice and then eat it all not even thinking they could be taking in a calorie bomb!

The chicken caesar at my old work was one of the highest calorie items on the menu, yet I'd see women order it and specifically comment that they were 'being good' or 'watching what they ate'. If they knew, they would have ordered something different (sometimes, depending on the rapport and how open they were being about trying to make a good choice, I'd tell them).