My husband, Garth [not his real name] has lost over 20 lbs. since January (YAY!) while, I lost a mere 4 lbs. (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?) needless to say, we've been eating a lot of salads, lately.
Especially, whenever we get the chance and actually do go out to eat, alone, you know, together!
Still, I was surprised to learn that ordering salads out may not always be the healthiest choice (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?)
ShopSmart Magazine, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, put 20 salads from 8 national chains to the test to find the best—and the worst. Check it out:
Top Healthy Choices at Major Restaurant Chains
WINNERS
1. Panera Bread’s BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad, with mild BBQ sauce, no dressing (350 calories)
2. On the Border’s Citrus Chipotle Chicken Salad, with Mango Citrus Vinaigrette (290 calories) RUNNERS-UP
3. Panera Bread’s Asian Sesame Chicken Salad, with crispy wonton strips and almonds, no dressing (320 calories)
4. Panera Bread’s Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, with pecans, no dressing (370 calories)
5. Wendy’s Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Fillet, with home-style garlic croutons, no dressing (240 calories) THE BEST FROM OTHER CHAINS
6. Olive Garden’s Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, without Caesar dressing (430 calories)
7. McDonald’s Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken, without Creamy Southwest dressing (320 calories)
8. Burger King’s Tendergrill Chicken Garden Salad, without ranch dressing (270 calories)
9. Sonic’s Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad, without ranch dressing (312 calories) NOT SO HOT
10. Chili’s Grilled BBQ Chicken Salad with barbecue sauce and ranch dressing (1060 calories) and Quesadilla Explosion Salad (1,400 calories)
Great, but what about the rest of us who, you know, eat most of our meals at home and not always together, either?
8 Expert Tips to Turn Any Salad Into a Tasty, Hearty Meal
MAKE IT HEARTY
1. Mix in whole grains, like brown rice, farro or spelt, to promote satiety with fewer calories.
2. Think sandwich fixings, such as good-quality bread, chunks of deli meat or chopped pickles, for a more substantial and more surprisingly delicious salad.
3. Serve it warm to make it feel more like a satisfying meal than an appetizer.
MAKE IT HEALTHY
4. Turn up the flavor in home-made dressings, using good-quality oil, fruit juice or a sweeter and less aggressive vinegar.
5. Swap out mayo and cream for puréed avocados, low-fat yogurt or buttermilk to cut calories and fat.
MAKE IT FAST
6. Stock up on tasty condiments that add flavor, like zingy mustards, flavorful oils, chopped pickled peppers, garlic, chili and new varieties of salt.
7. Plan your leftovers to save cooking and prep time. Cook extra meat for dinner that can be chopped up into a hearty salad the next day.
8. Buy no-cook proteins for easy, ready-to-go add-ins, like canned tuna, anchovies, beans and nuts.
Did I mention, I may be the only person on the planet who actually likes anchovies?
[licks lips]
Especially, on a big, fat, cheese-filled, crusty piece of pizza...JUST KIDDING...sort of ;)
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
[Source: April 2010 Issue of ShopSmart Magazine, re-printed here with permission]
DISCLOSURE: NO PAYMENTS, PRODUCTS, OR OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, OTHER THAN A CHANCE TO SHARE WAYS IN WHICH FAMILIES (LIKE MINE) CAN EAT A LITTLE HEALTHIER WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST, COURTESY OF SHOPSMARTMAG.ORG
