Welcome to the final week of Healthy Restaurant Picks! Hopefully these menu options have inspired you to make healthy choices when dining out.
If you missed the previous posts, you can find them here:
Fast Food Restaurants
Sandwich and Deli-Style Restaurants
All-American Restaurants
This week focuses on ethnic and Italian food. Under each restaurant, you’ll find a list of suggestions + a Pinterest-friendly version that can be saved for later.
As always, homemade and simple is best when choosing what to eat. But, life happens. And during busy times, restaurant meals may be a necessary means of survival.
If you don’t see your favorite restaurant listed, look for dishes that are similar to the recommendations below. Most restaurants have a lighter menu. Or at the least, they often mark their lighter dishes with a small icon on the menu.
Above all, stay informed and empowered when making your choices. You’ll be glad you did! 🙂
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN RESTAURANT
- Cup of Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken Fajitas (Skip the tortillas; eat the meat and veggies with lettuce, tomato, and beans)
- Fish Tacos (No sauce) with Salad on the side
- Taco Salad with Chicken (Request that it be served on a plate instead of taco shell; no cheese sauce or sour cream)
*Restaurant logo from Los Toros Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Chatsworth, California.
BRAVO CUCINA ITALIANA
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Bravo Chopped Salad (Half portion) with Grilled Chicken
- Grilled Salmon (Ask for light sauce)
- Chicken Caprese (Ask for half the usual amount of pasta)
CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL
- Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup
- Tuscan Strawberry Salad with Shrimp
- Wood-Grilled Tilapia*
- Tuscan Grilled Chicken*
- Tuscan Grilled Sirloin (6 oz)*
*Freshly steamed vegetables on the side
MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY
- Minestrone Soup
- Half Italian Tossed Salad with Grilled Chicken
- Lighter Take Chicken Marsala (Replace pasta with sautéed vegetables or grilled asparagus)
- Spaghetti Marinara (Side portion) with Italian Tossed Salad on the side
OLIVE GARDEN
- Soup, Salad, & Breadsticks with Minestrone Soup and half of Breadstick (or no breadstick at all)
- Herb-Grilled Salmon
- Chicken Margherita (Light on the lemon garlic sauce)
- Shrimp Scampi
ON THE BORDER MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA
- Mango Chicken Salad
- Sizzling Fajita Salad with Chicken (No dressing)
- Border Smart Tomatillo Enchiladas – Chicken Tinga
- Portabello & Grilled Vegetable Fajitas with Corn Tortillas (Black beans instead of refried beans)
- Border Smart Mexican Grilled Chicken with Salsa Fresca
PF CHANG’S
- Egg Drop Soup
- Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
- Jicama Street Tacos – Kung Pao Chicken (Order as your entree)
- Asian Caesar Salad (No croutons)
- Shrimp with Lobster Sauce
- Hong Kong Style Sea Bass
- Singapore Black Pepper Chicken (Split with another person at your table! Use minimal or no brown rice.)
