Salad with high cals VS low cal non healthy foods...?

When I was a cook and one of my front of house staff came to me with a request- I was happy to help. They tipped out didn't they? Why would I not want them in top shape and making more money?

Special prep all the way. Just talk to them and let them know you want something special-

I'm absolutely fascinated by this 800 cal salad. I assume eggs, chicken (fried), cheese, bacon and some hidden fat like almond slivers or some such.

Figure out what you like about salad- is it the lettuce and chicken? Then load on up on that. Toss some cheese in there and you'll be good to go. Take a few moments and enter in your ideas for salad based on the ingredients you know the kitchen has- enter that into MFP and create a salad that works for you.

I used to be a server, and had this same issue. I worked at Chilis. I would get the quesadilla explosion salad, but without dressing, tortilla strips, cheese and mini quesadillas. I WOULD use a little balsalmic vinaigrette. It was decent. I would also doctor a side salad. So, a piece of grilled chicken, a side salad with no cheese, add pico de gallo for zing.... put chicken on top.

I would sometimes get a side of black beans, a "side car" (guac, sour cream, pico and cheese) and make my own Black bean soft tacos.

Most of the time hodge-podgeing together a meal was the best option.

Then I got a job a a fine dining restaurant and it was GREAT. I could get a half order of grilled salmon with grilled veggies, or sweet talk the salad guys into letting me make my own salad...

"Salad" is completely meaningless. What is in it that equals 800 calories? It could be healthy or completely unhealthy. You can't assume it's healthy just because it's called salad.

This! Not all salads are healthy. Just becuase its called a salad, doesn;t mean its a better meal option. You would be better off getting something else that has lower calories and fat. I would also look at the overall nutritional value of the options you like to eat, and east what is filling and have overall better nutrition. Don't forget to look at the fat content as well as calories. Calories you can easily earn more of through exercise. Just becuase something has more claories, doesn;t mean it couldnt also be lower in fat, cholesteral, sodium, etc.

I would not opt for pancakes over salad

I would. Not every day, but I just loooooove pancakes!

It's the chicken that's causing the problem. Just go with the salad -- spinach, veggies, etc. no cheese, no meat, no dressing. That's the healthiest option. Plus, all of those aforementioned items are bad for you.

Actually, they're not 'bad for you' per se - dairy, lean proteins and certain fats are essential for health - it's a case of moderation required. I'd keep the chicken, vegetables, a small amount of cheese and bacon, and stick to a simple dressing - olive oil and balsamic vinegar, for example. I can't quite see how a chicken salad can be 1600 cals without dressing. Unless it's all deep-fried...Are you sure the dressing has been included? A full meal at 600-700 calories (which sounds more likely) sounds like a good deal to me, and the protein will keep you full.

Lol, most people are entirely wrong about animal products. If moderation is less than 12 ounces a week, then yes, it's okay. Meat and Dairy, even at small amounts, have been linked to an increase in cancer risk. 2.5 servings of dairy alone can increase a man's chance of prostate cancer by 30%. And let's not even mention heart disease. I can have this conversation with you much more extensively if you want to argue it (because most do) but I won't waste a lot of time trying to explain it on here. Let's just say that the American diet, even the "healthy" american diet is no where near healthy at all.

Up the veggies, fruits, beans, and nuts-- that will give you a healthy salad. I eat a huge salad every day and can NEVER get it over 350 calories. But then again I don't use dressing, meat, cheese, eggs, etc. in my salad.

It's the chicken that's causing the problem. Just go with the salad -- spinach, veggies, etc. no cheese, no meat, no dressing. That's the healthiest option. Plus, all of those aforementioned items are bad for you.

Actually, they're not 'bad for you' per se - dairy, lean proteins and certain fats are essential for health - it's a case of moderation required. I'd keep the chicken, vegetables, a small amount of cheese and bacon, and stick to a simple dressing - olive oil and balsamic vinegar, for example. I can't quite see how a chicken salad can be 1600 cals without dressing. Unless it's all deep-fried...Are you sure the dressing has been included? A full meal at 600-700 calories (which sounds more likely) sounds like a good deal to me, and the protein will keep you full.

Lol, most people are entirely wrong about animal products. If moderation is less than 12 ounces a week, then yes, it's okay. Meat and Dairy, even at small amounts, have been linked to an increase in cancer risk. 2.5 servings of dairy alone can increase a man's chance of prostate cancer by 30%. And let's not even mention heart disease. I can have this conversation with you much more extensively if you want to argue it (because most do) but I won't waste a lot of time trying to explain it on here. Let's just say that the American diet, even the "healthy" american diet is no where near healthy at all.

Up the veggies, fruits, beans, and nuts-- that will give you a healthy salad. I eat a huge salad every day and can NEVER get it over 350 calories. But then again I don't use dressing, meat, cheese, eggs, etc. in my salad.

Oh, well if you're going to make statements like that it'd be nice if you could put up a discalimer like "I'm a vegan or vegetarian" so that the rest of us can just roll our eyes and move along rather than worry about correcting you. Some might try anyway, but whatever.

It's the chicken that's causing the problem. Just go with the salad -- spinach, veggies, etc. no cheese, no meat, no dressing. That's the healthiest option. Plus, all of those aforementioned items are bad for you.

Actually, they're not 'bad for you' per se - dairy, lean proteins and certain fats are essential for health - it's a case of moderation required. I'd keep the chicken, vegetables, a small amount of cheese and bacon, and stick to a simple dressing - olive oil and balsamic vinegar, for example. I can't quite see how a chicken salad can be 1600 cals without dressing. Unless it's all deep-fried...Are you sure the dressing has been included? A full meal at 600-700 calories (which sounds more likely) sounds like a good deal to me, and the protein will keep you full.

Lol, most people are entirely wrong about animal products. If moderation is less than 12 ounces a week, then yes, it's okay. Meat and Dairy, even at small amounts, have been linked to an increase in cancer risk. 2.5 servings of dairy alone can increase a man's chance of prostate cancer by 30%. And let's not even mention heart disease. I can have this conversation with you much more extensively if you want to argue it (because most do) but I won't waste a lot of time trying to explain it on here. Let's just say that the American diet, even the "healthy" american diet is no where near healthy at all.

Up the veggies, fruits, beans, and nuts-- that will give you a healthy salad. I eat a huge salad every day and can NEVER get it over 350 calories. But then again I don't use dressing, meat, cheese, eggs, etc. in my salad.

Oh, well if you're going to make statements like that it'd be nice if you could put up a discalimer like "I'm a vegan or vegetarian" so that the rest of us can just roll our eyes and move along rather than worry about correcting you. Some might try anyway, but whatever.

Thank you - you beat me to it. Unfortunately there are a lot of highly-selective 'studies' out there that say one thing or another is 'bad' or raises the risk of one or the other thing, and it gives rise to a LOT of misinformation. Often these results are simultaneously or subsequently disproved (eggs and 'bad' cholesterol, anyone?!), or the studies are so selective (and the hypothesis so wide-ranging) that the results are essentially meaningless anyway. I could also argue this for a long time, but I have better things to do today. jts, I wish you all the luck in the world with your animal-product-free diet. OP, I hope you find a less-extreme way of reducing the calories in your salad and maintaining your intake of essential nutrients for long-term health.

I didn't mean to insult anyone. I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian, I just like to aim for a plant-based diet, but indulge in chicken wings and our local diner's mac and cheese every once in a while.

My argument, and I apologize if it came off differently, was that a lot of meat and dairy isn't very good for you. It's caloric and a good way to get past that in a salad is to replace it with things like nuts beans or seeds.

Sorry.

I didn't mean to insult anyone. I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian, I just like to aim for a plant-based diet, but indulge in chicken wings and our local diner's mac and cheese every once in a while.

My argument, and I apologize if it came off differently, was that a lot of meat and dairy isn't very good for you. It's caloric and a good way to get past that in a salad is to replace it with things like nuts beans or seeds.

Sorry.

Nuts, beans and seeds are pretty high in calories, too. High calorie =/= unhealthy.

Yes, true, but they have so many healthy benefits to them -- the amount of omega 3s -- that they should be picked first. High nutrient foods > low nutrient foods.