Going out to eat is often a diet nightmare because of the huge portions, high fat and high calorie dishes and the lack of listed nutritional information. However, many restaurants are beginning to add a healthier group of menu items for diners who are watching what they eat. A heart-healthy menu is one that features foods that are low in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and salt, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Wendy's
Fast food and heart health don't usually go together, but Wendy's offers several choices that keep fat and cholesterol down. This fast food chain offers baked potatoes in place of french fries, and chili, which contains beans, a food that support heart health because of its fiber content, Metro Editorial Services reports. A baked potato and cup of chili contains only 10g fat, much lower than the traditional burgers and fries that appear on fast-food menus.
Applebee's
Applebee's devotes part of its menu to meals that fit well into the Weight Watchers diet plan, but diners who want to eat heart healthy will benefit from these choices as well. They are low in fat, cholesterol and salt and allow someone to enjoy a restaurant meal without the risk of derailing a healthy diet. The garlic herb chicken contains only 6g of fat, making it a restaurant meal that fits well with a heart healthy diet, according to Metro Editorial Services.
Chipotle
Chipotle is a restaurant that features walk up ordering, but prides itself on local ingredients that are healthy, according to Health.com. While not everything on the menu fits a heart healthy diet, several of the burrito and taco fillings do. A diner walks through the line and orders what she wants in her burrito, tacos or bowl. The burritos are made with large tortillas, so opting for the tacos or a bowl, which has no tortilla is a better choice. To really keep saturated fat in check, a diner can order a vegetarian meal at Chipotle. For example, a bowl with rice, beans and fajita vegetables only contains 4.5g of fat. Choosing salsa and lettuce over cheese and sour cream keeps this number in check. A scoop of guacamole provides a dose of heart-healthy fats, but one serving is plenty.
Outback Steakhouse
The Outback Steakhouse menu contains foods to stay away from, such as fried onions and huge cuts of meat. However, the menu contains heart healthy diet items that can be ordered by diners who are watching their health, according to Metro Editorial Services. For example, the grilled chicken on the barbie with steamed vegetables has just under 9g of fat. One caveat, you must request that the butter be left off both items, otherwise the fat count skyrockets to 27g of fat.
References
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: A Diner's Guide to Health and Nutrition Claims on Restaurant Menus
- Health.com: America's Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants
- Metro Editorial Services: Healthier Options at Restaurant Chains
- Chipotle: Nutrition Facts
- Outback Steakhouse: Interactive Nutritional Menu Tool
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