Restaurants to Avoid!

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  • danihonline
    danihonline Posts: 26
    The great thing is that you can still enjoy almost all the food from these places, if you do a search online you can find lots of their recipes, but made healthier (also a great cookbooks like "Eat More Of What You Love" can't remember who wrote it, but I bought on QVC.com)
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    This is sad: Man suffers heart attack while eating at Heart Attack Grill

    http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/man-suffers-heart-attack-while-eating-heart-attack-185717972.html?fb_action_ids=337265826318801,2912051838249,2710955856659,336957279682989,10100679568486249&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_source=other_multiline&code=AQCUk3mwZGgioKSamsKh4yecfeMrs7a-eveXO-gW-Hj9O-jh7-U2DYCmKdlBGsOP8GvXMO5yBvW-1Gne3m2fNXVgloS5BpCKGlVeQsqiSkYSyZwWxVNhdmzOwACzsR-eI3IqL7ZbSYwpVm_aVap_72HjNhrPFYJA0hOfhpbTZdaXLtrJ3vR9LldTLTcOEberoCM#_=_

    The menu includes "Single", "Double", "Triple", and "Quadruple Bypass" hamburgers,[1] ranging from 8 to 32 ounces (230 to 910 g) of beef (up to about 8,000 calories)

    The Quadruple Bypass Burger with 8,000 calories (33 MJ) has been identified as one of the "world's worst junk foods".[11] It consists of four half-pound beef patties, eight slices of American cheese, a whole tomato and half an onion served in a bun coated with lard.

    Normal meals at the Heart Attack Grill easily exceed 8,000 calories.

    That is horrible and that restaurant should be outlawed. It's not funny or cute to sell things so horrible for people. At the same time, people should be smart enough to never have walked in their door.

    Why would you "outlaw" a restaurant? Is anyone forced to eat there, or to eat an 8000 calorie meal there? We can't legislate good choices, you have to make them for yourself. People do have the right to make bad choices. While it's clear that a burger with two pounds of meat and half a pound of cheese is a bad choice, not everything is that clear cut. There are some choices that some educated people consider bad choices that other equally educated people consider good choices. How do we decide which choices the government will enforce and which are a matter of choice?
  • viclee1
    viclee1 Posts: 156 Member
    I agree that some of the onus is on the orderer, but that being said a couple weeks ago I went to McD's with a friend (so the kids could play) and being realtively new to MFP, decided to do the smart thing and plan ahead. I looked up their nutritional info online and was EXTREMELY dissapointed in even the salad's and how much fat was in there (lots was the drsg, extra's, etc.) . If I'm going to intake the fat, I may as well enjoy what I'm eating. I settled on a 6pc. chicken nugget meal, and still lost my avg. 2 lbs that week :) I will be trying to avoid restaurants for the most part while I'm doing the majority of my weightloss. If there's a social obligation, I will go and do my best, but I'm not going to make it a big stressful ordeal!
  • menglema
    menglema Posts: 12
    When I tell myself NO, I fall off the healthy/workout wagon. So, I choose to limit portions instead.
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member

    wanna bet?
    lets starts with the whole appetizer arguement, an app can be quite filling. Ive watched many guests come in the restaurant, buy one, split it and say they were full. As for salad, it is possible to eat one without dressing, not as appealing for sure, but very possible and filling.

    Lastly, try linguine alla marinara, venetian apricot chicken, and capellini pomodoro (lunch portion), and much much more are under 500 calories.
    Heres a link for more since you don't seem to believe me: http://www.olivegardennutrition.com/restaurant-nutrition-chart.php?rid=

    Fair enough...

    I'm still going to argue that any appetizer portion under 500 cal is not going to be filling for 90% of the population. And yes its possible to eat a salad without dressing...but disgusting.

    I have never seen the linguine alla marinara...i may try it if we have it around here. I realized I forgot about the capellini...I've had it and thought it was disgusting so I think I just counted that one out when I looked at the nutrition menu. As for the apricot chicken...I probably counted that out too just because it doesn't sound like my thing.

    So yes...there are (very few) healthier options available. Olive Garden is still one of the least healthy places to eat.

    And for the record...I'll still eat there...I just don't worry about healthy eating when I go. I love the place.

    So it's the restaurant's fault that their low cal options are "not your thing?" The fact remains--most restaurants do have low cal options if you care to fact-check before going.
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    Olive Garden, never really eat there but I remember reading something about only a couple of options under 1,000 cals there too. I used to love Panera, never would've thought though that a simple turkey sandwich would get my close to 1,000 cals... until I started logging on here, to say the least I'll never eat there again. xD I here a lot of sammy shops are like that, you would expect it to be healthier but it's even worse.

    You can make bad choices at Panera, sure, but in fairness, a you-pick-two with half a Smoked Turkey Breast sandwich and Chicken Noodle soup, plus an apple as the side, comes to 370 calories. Swap the soup for a Classic Cafe salad with Balsamic Vinigrette for the soup if you prefer, it has 130 calories. 370 calories. Even choose Asiago Roast Beef sandwich and and Vegetarian Black Bean soup is only 600 calories, and lots of choices are around 500 calories. It's really not fair to diss Panera because you CAN make bad choices there.

    That's what I was thinking of! It's not the sierra turkey I would get when I worked next to panera it was the smoked turkey. Good stuff and low cal.

    That's what I said. Smoked Turkey Breast Cafe Sandwich. 210 calories for the half sandwich with the You-Pick-Two. 80 calories for the Chicken Noodle Soup, and 80 calories for the apple. I drink brewed tea, unsweetened and with no lemon, so no added calories there.
  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    there are definitely some places that are worse than others. but you can get a salad at most places if all the entrees are bad and just request your dressing on the side or no dressing. most places have some kind of grilled chicken or if it's a burger can always just get nothing on it, just plain. there is usually a way around most restaurant's meals.
  • jenluvsushi
    jenluvsushi Posts: 933 Member
    Applebee's....I swear they soak their food in ocean water! The cals may be low but my god the sodium levels are horrific. There is no reason for it either.....made my steak taste like crap!
  • Captain_Tightpants
    Captain_Tightpants Posts: 2,215 Member
    I wonder how many people die in hospitals. I think we should outlaw hospitals!
  • amandamickey
    amandamickey Posts: 49
    I try to avoid all restaurants! You never really know what you're getting. The nutritionals that are posted on their websites are not always accurate due to each person making the dishes differently. :grumble:

    If you're really trying to keep track of what you eat, cook/eat at home. That way you can control everything.

    Couldn't have said it better myself! :-)
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    I agree that some of the onus is on the orderer, but that being said a couple weeks ago I went to McD's with a friend (so the kids could play) and being realtively new to MFP, decided to do the smart thing and plan ahead. I looked up their nutritional info online and was EXTREMELY dissapointed in even the salad's and how much fat was in there (lots was the drsg, extra's, etc.) . If I'm going to intake the fat, I may as well enjoy what I'm eating. I settled on a 6pc. chicken nugget meal, and still lost my avg. 2 lbs that week :) I will be trying to avoid restaurants for the most part while I'm doing the majority of my weightloss. If there's a social obligation, I will go and do my best, but I'm not going to make it a big stressful ordeal!

    ALL of the onus should be on the orderer. No one is forced to choose the higher calorie options. All of these places have something you can get for 500-600 calories or less.
  • Pashen4fit
    Pashen4fit Posts: 63
    Red Lobster! Man, can I really pack away all of that butter-soaked seafood. Don't even get me started on the caesar salad and tempting deserts. <drools>

    I agree the biscuits alone ...
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    A restaurant's job is to serve you something that you'll come back for.

    Adding butter, sugar, salt, oil etc to anything will make it taste better to most.

    Eat at home.
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    I try to avoid all restaurants! You never really know what you're getting. The nutritionals that are posted on their websites are not always accurate due to each person making the dishes differently. :grumble:

    If you're really trying to keep track of what you eat, cook/eat at home. That way you can control everything.

    Couldn't have said it better myself! :-)

    This is less likely that you think. Stuff often comes portioned/measured already and things are just combined and heated. And if that is your criterion, McDonalds is the best of all restaurant choices, because there is no freedom for people at McDonalds to make sandwiches any different. Even ketchup comes from a metered dispenser. If I had to avoid all restaurants forever I'd just quit this whole thing. It's not worth it, for certain.
  • I1ahunt
    I1ahunt Posts: 72
    I prefer to not eat at restaurants with a sh!tty beer list.
  • sassiebritches
    sassiebritches Posts: 1,861 Member
    Though high in sodium this is a Protein eaters dream. I have the Admirals special loaded with garlic butter....MMMMMM Love eating Atkins :)


    Red Lobster! Man, can I really pack away all of that butter-soaked seafood. Don't even get me started on the caesar salad and tempting deserts. <drools>
  • mistresseeyore
    mistresseeyore Posts: 717 Member
    Why avoid anything? I get a doggie bag and put half my meal in the bag, and a 1k calorie meal becomes a 500 calorie meal. I like to think outside the box, instead of banning something out of my life.

    Edit: Oh yeah, and an easy lunch for the next day too!
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    I wonder how many people die in hospitals. I think we should outlaw hospitals!

    I venture more people die in cars and busses than restaurants, too! My, we'll be outlawing lots of stuff. Most of my coworkers come 20 or more miles to work. Boy will that be hard after they outlaw cars!
  • I1ahunt
    I1ahunt Posts: 72
    I just went through this all thi spast weekend. Our son got married on Saturday....we had family come in from out of state and they came in early to spend sometime with rarely seen family...so there was a lot of going out to eat... I ate out a lot last week .....but with som eresearch and healthy choices...cutting calories in other snacks or meals.....I ate well, I was full and with my workouts I stayed within my goals...it can be done...if you do your home work......My wife will almost always sak for things on a menu with out gravy, or hold the bread, or keep the cheese etc...if you do that you can control your calorie intake as well......that being said... I do prefer to eat at home......:glasses:
  • garita93
    garita93 Posts: 267 Member
    Why avoid anything? I get a doggie bag and put half my meal in the bag, and a 1k calorie meal becomes a 500 calorie meal. I like to think outside the box, instead of banning something out of my life.

    Liking your way of thinking!! I have a hard time forcing myself not to so this is definitely a good plan that I think I will adopt!
  • xonikitashafferxo
    xonikitashafferxo Posts: 150 Member
    Red Robin (Yum...love it but its a calorie/fat killer)
    Arby's

    Red robin isnt too bad... you just have to be careful what you get. i usually get the whisky river bbq wrap and i think its 450 calories after i take a lot of stuff off of it
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    There's a restaurant around here called the Tilted Kilt. The food's great, but it's typical "pub food," which means it's going to be high-calorie, and they don't list nutritional info anywhere, so it's impossible to get even a remotely accurate number.

    As for other places, the only places I "avoid" are the typical fast food places, in part because I have no desire to go there, and in part because just about everything that I'd get is fried, and places that give really bad service or are just not clean. I generally try to find the healthier options and budget for my meals.

    And about Heart Attack Burger, who would even want to go there? Their food doesn't even sound appealing. :sick:
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    Red Robin (Yum...love it but its a calorie/fat killer)
    Arby's

    Red robin isnt too bad... you just have to be careful what you get. i usually get the whisky river bbq wrap and i think its 450 calories after i take a lot of stuff off of it

    If you take a lot of the stuff off of it, is it still a Whisky River BBQ? :tongue: :wink:

    The fries are really what get you there. Lettuce wrapping and picking a different side go a long way.
  • LilBelieve
    LilBelieve Posts: 23
    Olive Garden, never really eat there but I remember reading something about only a couple of options under 1,000 cals there too. I used to love Panera, never would've thought though that a simple turkey sandwich would get my close to 1,000 cals... until I started logging on here, to say the least I'll never eat there again. xD I here a lot of sammy shops are like that, you would expect it to be healthier but it's even worse.

    Actually Olive Garden has several healthy options that are under 500calories each including soups, a few appetizers, and entrees. Eat one breadstick, salad without the dressing, and one of those entrees or an appetizer as your entree (the ones under 500 calories) with a glass or two of water and you should feel full and happy.

    If you dont remember to look up their nutrition information online before you go out then feel free to ask the host for a nutrition menu.

    (I was a server at Olive Garden so if there's anything you need to know feel free to ask.)

    Last time I checked the nutritional info about 3 weeks ago there wasn't a single entree under 1000 cals...in fact I don't remember a single one under 700...

    One breadstick...possible.
    Soup...good stuff.
    Salad without dressing? Why eat the salad at all then?
    An appetizer is not going to be filling.
    There are no entrees under 500 cals.

    I just ate at Olive Garden for the first time since joining MFP, and I have to admit that it was a challenge. However, it was completely possible. I ordered a lunch portion (which they do not advertise but will serve to you for lunch or dinner). I was concerned about feeling full, but since I had already been using MFP and cutting back on my portions, I found that I couldn't even finish it. I had to take half home, which never happens for me. You can eat just about anything, as long as you don't try to finish the dinner portion while sitting at the restaurant after having had breadsticks and multiple salads soaked in dressing (which I did all the time, pre-MFP). As with most places, it's all about portion size.
  • asudheimer
    asudheimer Posts: 82 Member
    CHEDDARS!! I love love love their food... but hate that they refuse to give any type of calorie estimates... when are they going to comply with the restaraunts have to post calories law that was passed? :(
  • jcstanton
    jcstanton Posts: 1,849 Member
    I know it's a little off topic, but reading some of these posts makes me think of a certain cable TV show. Anybody on here watch Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel? Any time I'm tempted to over eat or binge on junk food, I'll watch an episode of MVF. Watching that show makes me wanna puke....and I used to binge like that at least once per week. Seeing the look on Adam's face after eating like that is a stark reminder of how I always felt after a binge. It never fails to curb my appetite when I see that. I NEVER wanna feel that full again. It's actually painful.
  • jcstanton
    jcstanton Posts: 1,849 Member
    CHEDDARS!! I love love love their food... but hate that they refuse to give any type of calorie estimates... when are they going to comply with the restaraunts have to post calories law that was passed? :(

    A Cheddars just opened up in our area. My brother works there, but I have never eaten there. He's been working in the restaruant industry for about seven or eight years now. He's always been a big guy, but I can't believe how much weight he's gained in the last few years because he's always eating restaurant food. It breaks my heart because I know he's on the verge of causing himself some serious health issues.
  • marywilsoncline
    marywilsoncline Posts: 301 Member
    Has'nt anyone heard of the "EAT THIS, NOT THAT" line of books? I own 4 of them and the restaurant guide one is awesome to have on hand. It covers sit down restaurants as well as fast food ones and basically they tell ya the better choices over the bad ones on each menu. Well worth the twenty or so bucks for these books. Oh yeah and by the way, taco bell and wendys are among the best two choices when it comes to fast food. Taco bell has a new "fresco" menu that is light on fat and calories :wink:
  • kealambert
    kealambert Posts: 961 Member
    you can opt for the free salad instead of fries, which is what i (try) to do when i go there. Nice that they don't charge you for a salad like almost any other restaurant does.

    also any appetizers on the menus of most restaurants I try to avoid, as they're just loaded with fried and terrible for you food.
  • asudheimer
    asudheimer Posts: 82 Member
    Their food is really good, I usually box up 1/2 my meal at the beginning because it's enough for 2 generous servings, and than over-estimate what I think the calories are. Would be nice to have some nutritional info, so I am not just stabbing in the dark. And I know what you mean about the food industry jobs putting weight on you! My best friend who worked fast food for several years and she passed away last October at 28 from a heart attack, she was 375lbs +. No heart problems until it took her without warning so I really hope your brother can get turned around before it's too late!!

    Do you think that your brother would have any nutrition estimates? Feel free to add me on here if you like!

    CHEDDARS!! I love love love their food... but hate that they refuse to give any type of calorie estimates... when are they going to comply with the restaraunts have to post calories law that was passed? :(

    A Cheddars just opened up in our area. My brother works there, but I have never eaten there. He's been working in the restaruant industry for about seven or eight years now. He's always been a big guy, but I can't believe how much weight he's gained in the last few years because he's always eating restaurant food. It breaks my heart because I know he's on the verge of causing himself some serious health issues.
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