Chain Restaurants, Healthy Entrees: Do you have any suggestions?

[Mr. Ected]

I'm trying to eat better.

Home-cooked meals are easy. Finding something on the road is not. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Heidi]

1. More Miracle Whip.

That'd be my suggestion for a healthier chain restaurant menu. :hi:

[seemunkee]

2. Check their website

A lot of them will list calorie counts on the web but not on the menu.

[Coventina]

3. Applebees has a Weight Watchers menu.

I've only tried the shrimp meal. It was pretty good for chain food. I haven't tried the others, I don't eat out much.

[The empressof all]

16. They actually are doing a decent job with this

Their low cal options are quite tasty. I've had the chicken sandwich and the chicken spinach salad. Both were good and under 400 calories. They use to offer a raspberry chocolate cake that was under 250 calories but I noticed it was off the menu last time I visited.

Outback's Prime rib with steamed veggies I think is under 500 Calories...

Normally I don't like Applebees because their "Music" is just too loud for my old ears. But If I'm eating out and I'm intending to stay on my plan--more often than not that's where I choose to go.

BTW: Thai is also a good option. A half an order of Pad Thai is probably not gonna kill you---But you really have to stick with a half an order.

It helps to have them box up half the plate before you go. If you're on the road keeping a small cooler in your car will let you keep your "doggie bags" for next day's lunch.

[bridgit]

29. they do

[LuckyTheDog]

4. Subway has lower-fat subs

Skip the cheese and mayo and make them more healthy.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

23. I like the Subway Tuna Melt.

Tuna Melt with lettuce only on whole wheat bread. YUM!!!

[Truthiness Inspector]

24. Beware tuna salad

I asked how they made the tuna salad at my local Subway and they said it was equal parts tuna and mayonnaise. UCK! That is loads of fat, while you (generic you) are lead to believe "it's tuna, it must be healthy and low fat."

I doubt Subway is alone in this either.

[lildreamer316]

37. I did the Jarod thing and ate the oven roasted chicken breast

sub w/all the veggies and the lowest cal cheese; very small dash of southwest sauce and no oil or vinegar or salt or pepper - on the honey oat or wheat bread. I've lost weight.

[LuckyTheDog]

5. Another: Chili's 'Guiltless Grill" stuff

It's really not all THAT healthy. But it's better for you than the usual Chili's fare.

[SacredCow]

15. All of the guiltless grill items have an insane amount of sodium...

there really isn't much at Chili's that is "healthy."

So just get a Presidente margarita and be done with it! :toast:

[supernova]

6. Cracker Barrel has low carb options

mostly salads and breakfast served without bread or grits or other quick-acting carbs.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

7. Salad with

dressing on the side. Anything fried is going to be death-on-a-plate

[NJmaverick]

12. I will take one "death-on-a-plate" please

and a large draft beer.:toast:

[surrealAmerican]

8. With a little advance planning you could pack a sandwich...

... and a bottle of water. Not only healthier, but less expensive too.

[flvegan]

9. "Healthy" as in fewer calories, or "healthy" as to nutritional value?

[Mr. Ected]

13. Healthy as in low-fat, high nutritional value

Trying to lose weight.

[flvegan]

14. If you have a Ruby Tuesdays, they usually have a salad bar.

Which is excellent. What to watch out for: go easy on adding the egg, stay away from the ham (processed meat should be avoided at all costs) and mind your dressing.

They also have a veggie burger (as does Chili's, I believe) that's very good. I opt to not get the "dressing" they put on it, and instead go with ketchup and mustard. Substitute another veggie for fries (they usually offer broc or something like that).

If meat is a must, I believe that they both offer a burger that's bison meat, which for around the same calories is a lot better than that ground beef shit that goes into a regular burger.

Lastly, for best results, be honest. Those burgers are two meals. Cut it in half and take one of them home.

[Chan790]

10. Not a chain restaurant, but...

every chinese food restaurant I've ever been to has a "fussy eaters" or "special diet" menu. Large portions, low cal (usually because it consists of steamed vegetables in some low-cal sauce over white rice) and healthy. Usually somewhat high in sodium though.

[supernova]

11. True, most asian themed

restaurants I've been in have steamed entrees if you'd rather have that.

And for us westies, we can ask for no MSG.

Also sushi and sashimi are pretty darn low cal. ;-)

[Kali]

17. aside from the obvious like rich sauces or fried stuff

portions are too big. Order what you want/like (within reason) and CUT IT IN HALF. Either share, or get half to go for the next meal or day.

[rucky]

18. Ruby Tuesday has a fantastic salad bar

If you have one in your area.

though I'm sure there's some pretty unhealty options on that, too.

[Pharlo]

19. If you are forced to eat out a lot, I would suggest looking into

the book "Eat This, Not That". Essentially, it takes food choices from chain restaurants, analyzes them from a nutritional standpoint and suggests healthier options that are also listed on the menu.

[SeattleGirl]

26. That's a cool little book.

My SIL got one for Christmas, and I thought it had a lot of good info in it.

[AwakeAtLast]

20. Avoid words like 'creamy', 'breaded', or 'smothered'

Grilled, steamed, and baked are (usually) good words.

Good luck!

:hi:

[rucky]

21. I guess Waffle House is out, then.

[gmoney]

22. Eat This, Not That

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1594868549/amzng-20/

This book has suggestions for many fast food chains as far as the "healthier" choices on their menus. Helps you at least avoid the worst stuff in terms of fat, sodium, calories, etc.

Inexpensive, or browse it at a bookstore or library.

oops! dupe

[Petrushka]

25. Bob Evans plain grilled salmon w/lemon slices + rice pilaf + steamed broccoli -- OR --

plain grilled salmon w/lemon slices + a baked potato + a side salad w/vinegar & oil

[handmade34]

27. I eat almost all of my meals in restaurants (am vegetarian)

I always carry my own favorite low fat salad dressing and xylitol sweetner for coffee. You can get a salad almost anyplace and the dressing is the only bad part. Most all chains have a lowfat entree or two.

For cheap and easy I go to Wendy's and get the side salad and sour cream&chive baked potato - about $2.50

--went to Chili's tonight and got the Quesadilla Explosion with black bean patty instead of chicken and no dressing; usually ice water to drink.

I always stay away from fried anything, eat soup and lots of vegetables. I love Thai and noted just yesterday when watching the waitress make Thai iced tea that at least half of the drink was cream. Luckily I don't drink it but realized that it is almost impossible to determine just what is in most of the food that we eat when out. Good Luck.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

31. How could you have missed the cream (actually, sweetened condensed milk) in Thai iced tea?

:shrug:

To me, it's the dominant taste.

[handmade34]

32. don't drink it

my kids like the iced tea, I only drink the plain hot Thai tea. I hadn't really thought about what was in the iced tea and just noticed the other day. When I saw the waitress making it she was putting half and half in but I imagine sweetned condensed milk would be really good!

[grasswire]

28. Do you have a Panera near you?

There are a lot of interesting salads on the menu. The chinese chicken salad is pretty good, I think.

[Arugula Latte]

30. Avoid stuff that looks like this:

[Ken Burch]

36. That thing has TENTACLES, for God's sake!

[Kansas Wyatt]

33. Whatever you order...

Just because they put it on your plate, and it tastes good, does NOT mean that you have to eat all of it.

[grace0418]

34. Ruby Tuesday has a great salad bar. Sweet Tomatos too. But, as with any salad,

avoid adding cheese, croutons, fried chicken pieces, bacon, and thick, fatty dressings. Get your dressing on the side and just dip each mouthful. You'll use a lot less.

If you must order a sandwich, take off half the bun and eat the rest with a fork and knife. You'd be surprised how many calories and empty carbs are in a sandwich bun. Try to order a salad, fruit or veggies instead of fries.

If you go to Chipotle, get a burrito bowl instead of tacos or a burrito. The tortilla has an EYE-POPPING amount of calories and empty carbs. Same with the rice. Order it with no rice and extra beans. The beans have carbs and calories, for sure, but are full of complex carbs and vitamins and are very satisfying. Choose guacamole instead of cheese or sour cream (its usually a bit extra). It gives wonderful creaminess and flavor (and yes, fat and calories) but avocado is way healthier for you than cheese or sour cream.

[Ohio Joe]

35. Two big macs and fries

You should see when I'm not eating healthy :D