Important Restaurant Info for the Dieters

I don't know if this has been posted before, but just wanted to share:
(from my hungry girl email):

Shocking Restaurant Nutritionals... AHHHH!
Our inbox has been FLOODED with emails about this story since it broke about two weeks ago. In case you're unfamiliar with it, here's the scoop. Eight Scripps-owned TV stations in different cities had reporters order a total of about twenty so-called "healthier" meal options at Applebee's, Macaroni Grill, Chili's, Cheesecake Factory, etc. The food was then sent to a lab to be tested, to see if the nutritional stats provided by the restaurants were accurate. The results were ASTOUNDING, to say the least. The worst offender of the bunch was one of the Pollo Magro "Skinny Chicken" samples from Macaroni Grill. It contained nowhere near the "less than 6g fat and 500 calories" the menu claims (let alone the 330 calories and 5g fat listed on the website's nutritional page) -- it actually had over 1,000 calories and just under 50 grams of fat. INSANE! (FYI, a "Skinny Chicken" sample t aken from another city actually had only 320 calories, but still contained 14g fat. So you never know!) All four items that were tested from the Chili’s Guiltless Grill menu contained more than twice the fat they should have had -- the Guiltless Chicken Platter actually had more than 30g fat, as opposed to the 9 grams claimed by Chili's! Many of the other offerings had about 100 more calories and 13 additional fat grams than they were supposed to. Instead of just crying over this, let's be reasonable and take away some valuable info here...
1. You can never fully trust the restaurant nutritionals you read on websites and menus. There are too many unknowns (like who is actually preparing the food, how closely they follow directions and measurements, etc.).
2. Pay VERY close attention to your food. If the portion seems WAY too large to have the calories listed, chances are it has more calories. If it is supposed to have 6g fat and it is floating in oil, trust u s -- it DOESN'T contain just 6 grams of fat (sorry!).
3. For more control over your meal, special order when you can -- even the "lighter" dishes. Ordering things grilled or steamed with sauce on the side is the best way to go.
4. Ordering items listed as "diet-friendly" or "light" is still probably better than ordering standard menu options -- if the stats are off on the lighter dishes, just imagine how bad the regular stuff could really be!
For full lab results on the items tested, click here -- it's worth checking out.

http://www.abc2news.com/content/themenutest/testresults/default.aspx

Quoting ♥ Justice's Mommy:“ I don't know if this has been posted before, but just wanted to share: (from my hungry girl email): ... [snip!] ... the items tested, click here -- it's worth checking out. http://www.abc2news.com/content/themenutest/testresults/default.aspx”

That's why I eat NOTHING but salads and somtimes grilled chicken and either squeeze lemon juice on it or eat it with some sort of vineagar-based dressing, such as Balsamic. I don't trust anything when it comes to things I don't cook or my family doesn't cook.

Quoting Future_Chicago_Cubs_Mommy:“ That's why I eat NOTHING but salads and somtimes grilled chicken and either squeeze lemon juice on it ... [snip!] ... dressing, such as Balsamic. I don't trust anything when it comes to things I don't cook or my family doesn't cook.”

Yeah, I'm kind of the same way. I question if it is really prepared the way I've asked but I still eat it... like did they really put light mayo on my burger? lol.

Quoting ♥ Justice's Mommy:“ Yeah, I'm kind of the same way. I question if it is really prepared the way I've asked but I still eat it... like did they really put light mayo on my burger? lol.”

Light Mayo does not indicate light in calories - it could be lighter in color - no joke. Technically, that's not false advertising at all. Some restaurants have wheat bread so that's a better alternative instead of your burger-bun.

Quoting Future_Chicago_Cubs_Mommy:“ Light Mayo does not indicate light in calories - it could be lighter in color - no joke. Technically, ... [snip!] ... not false advertising at all. Some restaurants have wheat bread so that's a better alternative instead of your burger-bun.”

yeah I dont eat out often, I was just using that as an example.

IF I grab fast food I just get it w/ no mayo and add the fat free I have at home lol.

Quoting ♥ Justice's Mommy:“ yeah I dont eat out often, I was just using that as an example. IF I grab fast food I just get it w/ no mayo and add the fat free I have at home lol.”

I was actually going to suggest that - I've brought my own mayo to restaurants in small tupperware before. But we don't eat out often because we're on one salary and have an infant (4 months) and eating out is just too expensive...we only go when we have a gift card or my parents pay. So that actually works out better for me because it makes it easier to control my weight more.

Quoting Future_Chicago_Cubs_Mommy:“ I was actually going to suggest that - I've brought my own mayo to restaurants in small tupperware before. ... [snip!] ... a gift card or my parents pay. So that actually works out better for me because it makes it easier to control my weight more.”

Yeah I don't eat out much either. I am doing a lifestyle change and I won't be eating out much. It's so much healthier (and cheaper) to eat at home. I have a 5 month old (soon to be 6 month old) and it's just my income too so I know how you feel!

Can they be sued for false advertising? Seems likely someone would try!

Wow....why even bother to advertise fat free or low fat if you are just lying about it anyway!?!

Quoting Ryan's mom & preg.:“ Can they be sued for false advertising? Seems likely someone would try!”

Yes they absolutely can.

Quoting ♥ Justice's Mommy:“ Yeah I don't eat out much either. I am doing a lifestyle change and I won't be eating out much. It's ... [snip!] ... (and cheaper) to eat at home. I have a 5 month old (soon to be 6 month old) and it's just my income too so I know how you feel!”

Well, I gained 63 lbs during pregnancy and still have about 25 to lose, which is really frustrating, so I'm trying to avoid eating out alltogether so I can get this weight off once and for all.

Holy Damn! Give me KFC instead of a skinny damn chicken! You KNOW it'll taste better!!!

Quoting Sam | Elliott:“ Holy Damn! Give me KFC instead of a skinny damn chicken! You KNOW it'll taste better!!!”

hahaha seriously!

Quoting SallyIsRad:“ hahaha seriously!”

Look how that babe grew up!