Olive Garden...

Becky0582
Becky0582 Posts: 23
edited December 19 in Food and Nutrition
Any one out there have an idea of what I can order at Olive Garden that is good on calories?!! What I normally order would take the whole days worth of calories and then some! Someone please tell me what I need to order!
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Replies

  • ksavy
    ksavy Posts: 271 Member
    Venetian Apricot Chicken is not too bad for you.
  • SofaKingRad
    SofaKingRad Posts: 1,592 Member
    Soup, Salad, and breadsticks are awesome> Especially if you get the minestrone soup. I think it's pretty healthy. Just eat the breadsticks in moderation :)

    R.G. (AZ)
    P.G. (TX)
    S.M.ASCE
    Practicing Engineering Geology for 7+ years
    MFP Member 1+ year
  • stronglikebull
    stronglikebull Posts: 402
    the breadsticks are 150 calories a pop. honestly, i'm not sure i can go back to olive garden right now. too much temptation.
  • ericarae33
    ericarae33 Posts: 211 Member
    I would get what you want, but eat in moderation....like a couple bites of this, one of those etc. I hate going to restraunts and gettign something I might not like just because its less calories...just eat less of what you want....and have LOTS of salad first, but get dressing on the side!
  • BosLady1
    BosLady1 Posts: 83
    Go to OG's website, they have calorie listings for everything... http://www.olivegarden.com/

    On the left side it says menu... under that tab is nutrition... =)

    I love their Chicken fettuccini alfredo.. but when I saw the nutrition i was like :noway: uggggh lol.. still love that place.
  • susannahcooks
    susannahcooks Posts: 293 Member
    Get the salad (ask for their light dressing - they have it but you have to ask) and the pasta fagiole soup - Skip the breadsticks or else have just one.

    Otherwise - I think they have some entrees that are meat + veg. Just gotta watch the salad dressing (Its SUPER high cal) and breadsticks.
  • dawlschic007
    dawlschic007 Posts: 636 Member
    The Mediterranean Grilled Chicken is good. Or you can get what you normally want but just eat part of it and save the rest for later.

    http://www.olivegarden.com/menu/nutrition/
  • dawlschic007
    dawlschic007 Posts: 636 Member
    Oops! Duplicate
  • toysbigkid
    toysbigkid Posts: 545 Member
    I always get 2 bowls Minestrone soup and tons of salad, low cal dressing on the side. Stuffed when I leave there. NO bread
  • danithegirl89
    danithegirl89 Posts: 203 Member
    Like someone else said... Venetian Apricot chicken. It's actually really good. Chicken breast with an apricot sauce and veggies on the side. :)
  • superstarkaren
    superstarkaren Posts: 1 Member
    I love Capellini Pomodoro...it is carb loaded, but otherwise pretty healthy... I would ask for the lunch portion(480 cal) or eat about half though(420 cal)...especially if you want to partake in salad(290 cal) and a breadstick(150 cal). Honestly I try to eat light on a day I may eat out, so that I can enjoy the experience when I'm there. And you need to remember this is one meal on one day...it's ok! Besides you could always grab a workout when you get home and get some extra calories out of that :o)
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    I usually get the breadsticks with some dipping sauce.

    Mmmm....
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    Soup, Salad, and breadsticks are awesome> Especially if you get the minestrone soup. I think it's pretty healthy. Just eat the breadsticks in moderation :)

    R.G. (AZ)
    P.G. (TX)
    S.M.ASCE
    Practicing Engineering Geology for 7+ years
    MFP Member 1+ year

    Soup & salad are great... but I'd not do the breadsticks... and add a small side of spaghetti with meat sauce. But that's just me.
  • worgen
    worgen Posts: 14
    Go to their website and they have a nutrition guide there for you. Look at it and deside what you want. But when you get your meal ask for a to-go box and put half of it away for your meal next day ;)
  • Skinny_Beans
    Skinny_Beans Posts: 405 Member
    isn't olive garden nothing but bread and pasta? I'd say screw it and get what you like, just account for the calories by having a calorie deficit.
  • asongforholly
    asongforholly Posts: 29 Member
    Stay AWAY from the breadsticks. Last time I went I thought I did good until I saw the calorie count for the sticks.

    I had the shrimp primavara and it was pretty good calorie wise. They have a few lower calorish dishes that are quite tasty. I
  • Becky0582
    Becky0582 Posts: 23
    Okay, going to website and checking it out...can anyone tell me what veggies come on the side with the apricot chicken or the tilapia? And are those veggies included in the calorie count?
  • dawlschic007
    dawlschic007 Posts: 636 Member
    Venetian Apricot Chicken -
    Grilled chicken breasts in an apricot citrus sauce. Served with broccoli, asparagus and diced tomatoes.

    Yes, the calorie count is for the entire plate.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Minestrone soup and salad without the dressing or with dressing on the side. I can usually do one breadstick also.
  • swaney3
    swaney3 Posts: 12
    I went to Chillis yesterday.. I crashed and burned. Good luck!
  • saraann4
    saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member
    Soup, Salad, and breadsticks are awesome> Especially if you get the minestrone soup. I think it's pretty healthy. Just eat the breadsticks in moderation :)

    R.G. (AZ)
    P.G. (TX)
    S.M.ASCE
    Practicing Engineering Geology for 7+ years
    MFP Member 1+ year

    Love, love, love the minestrone soup. I had the soup, salad, and breadsticks the last time I went which was last year. Delicious!
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I went to Chillis yesterday.. I crashed and burned. Good luck!

    Next time you go to Chili's get the Margarita Chicken. It's 650 calories for the entire plate, and you don't have to eat it all.
  • AlayshaJ
    AlayshaJ Posts: 703 Member
    AHHH They have a sea food soup that is AMAZING. Seafood Brodetto! Soooo good. 480 cals 47g protien


    http://www.olivegarden.com/Menu/Nutrition/
  • Alexstrasza
    Alexstrasza Posts: 619 Member
    I'm angry at Olive Garden right now. >:(

    Went there today with hubby thinking it'd be a healthy choice.

    Boy was I wrong. Harumph!!!
  • skipresimont
    skipresimont Posts: 25
    I had to go to dinner with the owners of my company when they were in town about a month ago. Was not looking forward to trying to pick something off the menu. When I got there I chose the salmon meal and it was good. I was please to find out that it was in the 600 calorie range or close to it when I got home and looked it up.
  • dawlschic007
    dawlschic007 Posts: 636 Member
    Chili's has a lighter choice menu so it's easier (for me) to stay on plan there. I usually end up getting the 6 oz classic sirloin with broccoli and it's only 260 calories for the entire meal.
  • Lovestoscrapbook
    Lovestoscrapbook Posts: 295 Member
    Classic advice...I worked as a server for 10 years and could always tell who was focusing on fitness. Remember that restaurant portions are typically 1.5-2x what a real "portion" should be. Good advice to get your meal and immediately ask for a to go box and put half away for the next day. This way you get to enjoy it twice!
  • SierraElegance
    SierraElegance Posts: 86 Member
    Don't just focus on the calorie count- make sure you look at the saturated fat and sodium. Many (most) of the menu items are ridiculous! I try to have less than 1500 mg of sodium a day, the recommendation is a max of 2500. A lot of these meals are more than a day's worth of sodium!!! Not healthy at all.

    Like others said, the chicken dish with the apricot is semi-decent, and so is the tilapia and salmon. There is also a low cal spinach salad, just use a tiny bit of dressing. But think of it as a splurge meal, not a diet meal!
  • tarajones13
    tarajones13 Posts: 1
    The minestrone soup has 100 calories and is great. You can also do whole wheat pasta and marina for about 400 calories.
  • bnraney
    bnraney Posts: 1 Member
    I like this strategy best... eat in moderation, and pack up half or two-thirds to take home. I split up what I take home and have it for 2 or 3 additional meals with a homemade salad.
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