Eating Out Choices
Tuesday, March 6, 2007; 12:32 PM
If last week's news that some restaurant fare can have more than a day's worth of calories and fat has left you with indigestion about what to order, find some relief in today's Lean Plate Club column. Check back to the Lean Plate Club page later this week for our new resource list of restaurant nutrition information, where you can find some of the calories, fat and more in your favorite foods from many fast-food spots.
Each day, 132 million people eat out, according to the National Restaurant Association. So, I'm starting a new feature today in this newsletter to help guide you to smart choices at popular restaurants.
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At Cosi's the Five Cheese Melt has more than 1,000 calories. But the Toasted Fennel and Chicken Salad has just 171 calories and three grams of fat.
A good sandwich choice: Turkey Light, which has 476 calories. Compare that with the Turkey Rustica with 619 calories and 27 grams of fat.
At Au Bon Pain, the Field Greens, Gorgonzola and Walnut Salad clocks in at 310 calories, 27 grams of fat (including eight grams of saturated fat.) By comparison, three Asian Chicken Lettuce Cups have 150 calories, 13 grams of protein, seven grams of fat, but just three grams of unhealthy saturated fat. The Southwest Vegetable Soup is a caloric bargain with 100 calories for 12 ounces and just three grams of fat. It's also much lower in sodium than most canned soups, with 370 milligrams per 12 ounces (compared with 900 milligrams per cup of some canned soups.)
Got a favorite, healthy meal that you eat out? Share it with us-- or just tell us about your eating out tips -- in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat. You can join live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Or leave comments, tips or questions anytime. Or e-mail me at leanplateclub@washpost.com.
Precocious Puberty
That's what some obese children are experiencing, according to a new report from the University of Michigan.
You're familiar with weight-loss surgery for adults. But did you know that it's also becoming popular for kids? What do you think about this trend? And what did you think of the recent news reports about some extremely obese children, including the eight year old in England who weighs 196 pounds and this six-year-old Russian boy, who was recently featured in the Guardian. Tell us in today's Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.
More Tools
We've been compiling a list of electronic tools to help you track calories, as you'll see in this recent Lean Plate Club column. Today, I found three, more tools at Calorieking. And don't forget that I have free forms to count both Weight Watchers points in Microsoft Excel and calories in Microsoft Word. If you'd like these tools, just zip me an e-mail to leanplateclub@washpost.com. Please indicate which one you'd like in the subject line. Thanks to the Lean Plate Club members who supplied them for sharing in the LPC spirit.
What's for Dinner Tonight?
Pasta, Tuna and Roasted Pepper Salad is one offering from Eating Well magazine. It's rich in healthy, omega-3 fatty acids.
Pork Fajitas are another option. They take just 20 minutes of active time to make, perfect for a nightly meal.
Why go out to the Olive Garden when you can make some of their meals at home? Chianti Braised Short Ribs is one you'll want to make on the weekends or when you have some extra time. White Bean Salad with Tomatoes and Crispy Pancetta will take you about 45 minutes.
And for something completely different: Meatless Monday offers Dinner Crepes that can be made sweet or savory. Your choice! They have just 54 calories each. Make them with white wheat flour for an extra whole grain punch.
Got a favorite healthy food find that you'd like to share? How are you fitting in more physical activity this week? (I've been taking a tip from the Mayo Clinic's healthy office and have been reading while riding a stationary bike. Check out a video from Lean Plate Club member Lois Yurow.) Share your tips in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.
And don't forget: You can check out chat transcript archives or previous columns any time for free.
