I think sometimes we're fooled into a false sense of complacency if we see the word, "Salad" on a menu. We think, "Oh, it's a salad. It must be good for me. It can't have that many calories."
I'm here to tell you how completely untrue that is. My husband and I just got back from having lunch at Jason's Deli. They have several salads on their menu. Even without dressings the lowest calorie content of ANY of them is just about 600 calories. For a SALAD. What's the problem you ask? Let me tell you, and then you can be more informed about your salad choices.
First of all, dressings are notoriously high in calories. You wouldn't begin to believe how many calories and how much fat that ranch dressing has. If you really have to have dressing on a salad, get it on the side. Then stick your fork in for each bite. You'll be amazed at how much LESS dressing you use that way.
Secondly, croutons, nuts, sunflower seeds - basically anything crispy or crunchy. We all love to have these on our salads, but unfortunately they pile on the calories. Try to be sparing or ask for your salad without the croutons.
Third, unfortunately, most salads are piled HIGH with cheese. If you can put your own cheese on, try to go sparing. A cheese like feta is good for this because of its crumbles. Be careful about how much cheese you are consuming.
So what should you have on a salad? Load up on the veggies. Lettuces like spinach are best, because iceberg really has no nutritional value. Make sure you go sparing on the cheese and croutons. Get your dressing on the side. If you want meat on it, go for a lean meat like turkey, and be careful about portion size. If you follow these tips, your salad really will be healthy.
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Comments: 51
For me I throw a ton on it some good some not so good, but we all have to live a little sometimes. :P
I love salads - often get a HUGE shredded salad with turkey and swiss cheese.
The cheese I use the most at home is feta - and try for the low fat when I can find it.
I don't like croûtons, so always remove them.
I usually get a chef's, and take three fourths of it home, so the calories are spread out over about 4 meals.
And while I love cheese, I don't like gobs of it on salad, so usually take it off.
Most goes home for future salads till it wilts.
I love some other veggies or ham as well.
Some salads are worse than if you just went to KFC and just pigged out.
All those different toppings, dressings...
The best tasting once come straight out of our garden.
Those toppings would be good, but we do not buy them, so there not here to eat lol
Did you hear of all the recalls on the pre packaged salads? Those scare us!
10 4 u
But to support your point, at TGI Fridays, there is a pecan chicken salad on the menu, and it's honestly the worst thing for you on the menu. It has the most calories just because of the way the chicken is prepared.
I only question now if the fruits and vegetables the restuarants are serving are safe and not recalled by the government.
some chard and buttercrunch and romaine lettuces are great....
but I have to have my cheese.....sharp.....