Olive Garden...

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  • stubbysticks
    stubbysticks Posts: 1,275 Member
    They used to have this great low carb dish called Seafood Brodetto but last time I went I didn't see it on the menu anymore. It was a really delicious seafood soup with a tomato-based broth. Since I didn't see that I went with parm crusted tilapia, I think. I LOVE pasta so I typically only go to OG when I'm carbing up for a long run/race & am not limiting calories. If it's an occasion, like a family bday party or something, I don't go overboard trying to eat "healthy" but will look up a couple of options on my MFP app & compare protein content to go with the one that has more.

    In the grand scheme of things, one outing to OG isn't going to make or break your weight loss. Worst case, you'll have a temporary spike in weight for a few days that will come right back off when you're back to your regular program. So ENJOY!!!
  • SerenaNatasha
    SerenaNatasha Posts: 246
    They have a nutrition guide there that you can ask for. I had the Salmon with broccoli i believe, it was pretty tasty :)
  • dorothytd
    dorothytd Posts: 1,138 Member
    I like the shrimp primavera. I eat the shrimp and all the veggies. Very little of the pasta. It is filling!
  • DrBorkBork
    DrBorkBork Posts: 4,099 Member
    Good habit to form: When your dinner comes, ask for a to-go box, and put half of your meal away. Then you can get whatever you want (and have awesome leftovers-- BO-NUS!)

    I like the mixed grill. Tons of veggies and protein
  • serenity216
    serenity216 Posts: 512 Member
    Watch out for the breadsticks...full of calories and sodium!
  • dianacannon89
    dianacannon89 Posts: 235 Member
    Zupa Tuscana & Seafood Brodetto

    Also there was a $4/2 dinner entrees coupon in Sundays paper
  • mdsjmom98
    mdsjmom98 Posts: 333 Member
    we recently had a lunch brought in for us. I ordered grilled salmon with broccoli. I ate one breadstick, half a salad, the grilled salmon, broccoli for less than 700 cals.
  • _MeganLove_
    _MeganLove_ Posts: 2
    Minestrone only has 100 calories per bowl!
  • Jentaylor0295
    Jentaylor0295 Posts: 93 Member
    I eat two portions of the salad, NO breadsticks (or one only @ 150 pop) & 2 bowls of minestrone soup (100 calories each).
  • serenity216
    serenity216 Posts: 512 Member
    Agreed---sodium can keep you from weight loss (can make you gain or plateau) just as easily as going over on calories. I learned it the hard was and spent 2 weeks at a plateau because I wasn't watching my sodium levels and they were over almost every day.
    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!
  • jackieatx
    jackieatx Posts: 578 Member
    Sodium city! I always get the bean soup and fill up on that, and then take my pasta dish home and split it up and give my hubbub half the next day
  • llamalland
    llamalland Posts: 246 Member
    Here's my Mother's Day dinner. Ate the other 1/2 the next day.

    Olive Garden - Stuffed Chicken Marsala W/ Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, 0.5 entree 400 cals
    Olive Garden - Endless Italian Salad - 1 Salad, 1 serving 201 cals
  • joy31021
    joy31021 Posts: 216
    I order salad with no croutons, extra tomato, lowfat peppercorn dressing on side and dip not dump. Then lunch size pomodoro with whole wheat noodles and extra garlic and basil. Waitresses hate me
  • WhitneyAnnabelle
    WhitneyAnnabelle Posts: 724 Member

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

    Um...THANK YOU FOR THIS
  • Jill_newimprovedversion
    Jill_newimprovedversion Posts: 988 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!

    I do this for MANY restaurants. I try to savor ONE breadstick- break in 1/2 to eat w/ salad, the other w/ meal, just make sure to drink lots of water earlier in the day, during and after to offset the sodium.
    And most people eating with you won't mind if you ask for the dressing ON THE SIDE, instead of poured directly on the WHOLE salad bowl....
    I pass on the croutons= just not worth the added calories, carbs, fat and sodium. And easy on the grated Parmesan cheese.
  • hsass75
    hsass75 Posts: 7 Member
    I will stick with my favorites, but only eat half or a third. I'm then usually able to plan the calories into my day. I refuse to get something I don't like just because the calories are lower. Oh, and I do tend to stay away from the bread sticks.
  • morkiemama
    morkiemama Posts: 894 Member
    I say go and enjoy. One day isn't going to break you as long as you don't do it all the time. :) Put half in a to-go container and you can enjoy leftovers the next day! :D

    If you want some rules of thumb...

    Stay away from white sauces (e.g. alfredo). They are cream based and LOADED with cals.

    Stay away from thick pastas (e.g. fettuccine) and choose thinner options (e.g. angel hair).

    Stay away from fried things (e.g. mozzarella sticks, chicken parmesan).

    Get dressing on the side and don't add extra cheese.

    Don't eat too many bread sticks. :)

    Hope this helps!

    P.S. Chain restaurants often have nutrition guides available online. OG has one for sure, as does any Darden owned restaurant (e.g. OG, Red Lobster, etc.)
  • andreamkelly
    andreamkelly Posts: 169
    I Love Zuppa Toscana, but it's definitely not fat free and to be honest I won't buy it at Olive Garden anymore because my homemade is much better. I bought all the makings this week to make a low fat version, including turkey sausage and turkey bacon as well as fat free half n half (not sure how that can be). I always use a lot more kale than the recipe calls for, so that is good too. I have a bottle of the Olive Garden and it has less fat and calories than some of the olive oil and vinegar dressing, but obviously more than the low cal/low fat dressing you can buy. Good Luck and Enjoy!
  • missprincessjenny
    missprincessjenny Posts: 104 Member
    I've only ate there twice. But both times it threw everything off the charts. Since it's not something I routinely do I wasn't worried.
  • gonnadoit2010
    gonnadoit2010 Posts: 53 Member
    I went through the same thing last week end. I ended up ordering the parmessan crusted tilapia w/ zucchinni and a small portion of pasta. I also had the green salad w/the salad dressing on the side, so I used very little and no bread sticks:cry: I believe the main course was 590 calories and was very good.
  • DonnaLFitz
    DonnaLFitz Posts: 270 Member
    Venetian Apricot Chicken is not too bad for you.

    And it's quite tasty.
  • hbaby08
    hbaby08 Posts: 75
    agree with all. but drink plenty of water, their sodium counts on most dishes are no joke
  • Carissamr
    Carissamr Posts: 35 Member
    Venetian Apricot Chicken is not too bad for you.

    This is what I was going to suggest...I believe the dinner was 400 calories...I am not sure about the other nutritional info but I am sure it is a bit high in sugar because of the apricots...Watch out though because when you add the salad, with dressing, drinks and bread sticks it can easily become an 800-1000 calorie meal
  • happyfeetrebel1
    happyfeetrebel1 Posts: 1,005 Member
    I just got done eating my nice broiled chicken breast..and came back to hear talk of Olive Garden!!

    Now I want Alfredo. LOTS of Alfredo. Swimming in Sauce!

    /sigh

    LOL...I just gotta remember that nothing tastes as good as thin feels...

    (except maybe alfredo)

    :tongue:
  • angeliis02
    angeliis02 Posts: 103 Member
    We had this for dinner tonight. I had the Mediterranean Grilled chicken, one breadstick, one serving of salad and then we had zeppolis with chocolate sauce for dessert (at the request of a very persuasive 5 year old.) It was really really good. The sodium was crazy though and I'm sure I'll be retaining water like crazy.
  • killingtheantagonist
    killingtheantagonist Posts: 178 Member
    When I go to Olive Garden I always get the Parmesan Crusted Bistecca. It's 690 calories for the whole thing and it's a lot to me. I usually end up taking half of it home.
    Parmesan_Crusted_Bistecca.jpg
  • amberleighM04
    amberleighM04 Posts: 108
    I always have soup, salad and one breadstick.
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