Love/Hate Relationship: Taco Bell

I love a good taco or some nachos.  I usually make them at home using ground turkey and all the fixings, but every now and then, I would head straight over to "yo quiero Taco Bell" and place my order.  Le Sigh.  Since starting this blog, having to actually look at the nutritional information of fast food restaurants has been an eye opening experience.  Seriously, I don't think most people realize how many calories the average combo has when they are going through a drive through and ordering the same old, same old.  If they did, they would keep on going.  And they wonder why so many Americans are obese.


Love it! (usual orders)

• Nachos BellGrande and Crunchy Taco Supreme (980 cal)
• Fiesta Taco Salad-Beef  (780 cal)
• Grilled Steak Soft Taco and Two Crunchy Tacos (590 cal)
• Caramel Apple Empanada (310 cal)

 By the way, I haven't even added the other 600-800 or so calories for that big old cup of soda that comes with the meal!

Try it! (healthier options)
Here are some lower calorie options that are a little easier on your waistline.

• Two of these with a diet soda or water for lunch
• Fresco Chicken Soft Taco (150 cal)
• Fresco Crunchy Taco (150 cal)
• Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco (150 cal)
• Fresco Soft Taco (180 cal)
• Crunchy Taco (170 cal)
• Chicken Soft Taco (180 cal)

• One of these with Mexican Rice (120 cal) for dinner
• Fresco Bean Burrito (350 cal)
  
• Fresco Burrito Supreme Chicken (350 cal)
  
• Fresco Burrito Supreme Steak (340 cal)

The Fresco items are part of Taco Bell's Diet Menu and are prepared with Fiesta Salsa – a mix of diced tomatoes, white onions and cilantro – that replaces the shredded cheese and sauce for only 5 calories!


Hate it!
XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito - Beef (880 cal)
XXL Grilled Stuft Chicken - Beef (840 cal)
XXL Grilled Stuft Steak - Beef (820 cal)
Volcano Nachos (990 cal)  Really!?!?

You can see more nutrition information on Taco Bell's website.

Love/Hate Relationship: O'Charley's

Scenario:  My friend and I decided to run to a shoe store during lunch last week.  Unfortunately, it had been so long since either of us had been to the store that we didn't know that it had closed.  Two years ago.  Oh well...

I had a bright idea.  "Let's go to O'Charley's for lunch!"  It was close by and I hadn't been there in a while.  She agreed and I drove on over.  We entered, were seated and were given menus.  We both pulled out our phones and started checking calorie counts.  **Crickets**  

Their lunch menu, with items starting at $6.49, lets you choose an entree and a pairing (calories):

• Entrees include: 1/2 BLT (410), Cheese & Bacon Quesadilla (710), 1/2 Club Sandwich (480), Chicken Tacos (620), Chicken Fajita Sandwich (740) and Cajun Chicken Pasta (840).
• Pairing include: Soup of the Day, Overloaded Potato Soup (170 cup), House Salad w/o Dressing (130), Caesar Salad (280) and a Loaded Baked Potato (590)

Oh-kay... moving on to the more expensive options.

• Good Time Nachos (Not a real option, but they looked good!) - 1030 cal
• Bayou Tilapia - 880 cal (w/o the sauce and 1/2 the serving of the rice pilaf - 435 cal)
• Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken - 680 cal
• Cedar Planked Salmon - 530 cal
• Cedar Planked Tilapia - 280 cal
• Grilled Turkey Burger - 890 cal
• Sweet Potato Fries - 470 cal
• Yeast Roll - 130 cal

Le sigh.  The pickings were indeed slim.  Let's just say that our waitress had to come back to our table three times before we ordered.  I finally settled on the Bayou Tilapia with the sauce on the side (435) with rice pilaf (190) and a house salad (130) with Balsamic dressing.  Removing the sauce from the fish basically made it a nice blackened tilapia.  We couldn't resist the rolls, so we decided to split one.  But, hold on for a moment.  I ordered the Balsamic dressing because they didn't have Italian and I though it would be better than Ranch.  I was shocked that it had 240 calories!  Oil based salad dressings were supposed to be better than cream based, right?!?  Apparently not in every case, so I was glad I got that on the side as well.  I ended up dipping the fork in the dressing in order to eat the salad.  How they came up with 130 calories for a bowl of lettuce with ONE cucumber slice and an actual PINCH of shredded cheese is beyond me, but whatever.  I guess it was all of the croutons (which I removed).  The Bayou Tilapia "sauce" was really an oily Creole sauce that looked like a gravy of some kind with red and green peppers in it.  I was so glad that I asked that it be put on the side.  The seasoned fish was perfect all by itself.  The meal came with about two servings of rice pilaf so I left half of it uneaten.  Restaurant portions are so large that you have to be mindful of just how much you are eating or their nutritional info goes right out of the window.  All in all, it was a good lunch and a good day!  

You can find more of O'Charley's nutritional information here.  They have a few decent options, but not as many as I expected.  When you consider how restaurants are beginning to cater to those who want healthier options, O'Charley's seems to be a little behind the curve.

 Bayou Tilapia (Photo courtesy of O'Charley's)

Love/Hate Relationship: Chik-fil-a

I have already mentioned that Chik-fil-a is my favorite restaurant, but I need to go over their whole menu to give you a few more ideas about what's good to order and what's not when you are planning to head through their drive through.

Love It! (usual orders)

• 4 piece Chik-n-Minis (370 cal)
• 8 piece nugget meal (260 cal)
• 4 piece chicken finger (470 cal)

These menu items aren't too bad as long as you don't get the combos with tater tots/fries (290 cal for a medium fry) and a soda.  Make it a habit to ask for the fresh fruit cup (50 cal) or side salad (70 cal) instead and you can have almost anything on the menu.  I told you they're my favorite!

Try it! (healthier options)

• Yogurt parfait (180 cal - add granola and it jumps to 290)
• Multigrain oatmeal with toppings (290)
• Sunflower Multigrain Bagel (220 cal w/o spread) 
• Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich w/med. Fruit Cup (360 cal)
• Southwest Chargrilled Salad (240 cal w/o dressing) 
• Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad (180 w/dressing)
• Chargreilled Chicken Cool Wrap (410)
• Chicken Soup (140 cal)
• Ice dream cone (170 cal)

Not for everyday (again, skip the fries, tots and coleslaw) 

• Chicken, Egg, & Cheese on Sunflower Multigrain Bagel (480 cal)
• Sausage Breakfast Burrito (500 cal)
• Chicken Biscuits (reg and spicy - 460 cal)
• Chicken Salad Sandwich (510 cal)
• Carrot and raisin salad (260 cal - not bad by itself, but not ok with a meal)

Skip it!

• Fudge Nut Brownie (370 cal)
• Chocolate Chunk Cookie (320 cal)
• Milk shakes (660-770 cal)

More nutritional information for Chik-fil-a can be found here.

Love/Hate Relationship: Zaxby's

Once again, I have been looking at the nutritional information of restaurants I visit on a somewhat regular basis. This time it was Zaxby's.

Le Sigh.  The bun alone has the same calories as Chik-fil-a's Grilled Chicken Sandwich, cup of fruit and a diet soda combined.  I guess my new order will be the Grilled House salad with no Texas toast or fried onions.  That's 345 calories w/o dressing.  All I can say for Zaxby's is - iCan't. 

MEALS

Chicken Finger Nibbler Meal (1330 cal)

Crinkle Fries 360, 3 Chicken Fingers 260, Zax Sauce 180, Nibbler Buns (3) 530

Cajun Club Sandwich Basket (1140 cal)

Crinkle Fries 360, Brioche Bun 360, Green Leaf Lettuce 0, Ranch Sauce 130, 2 pc Bacon 50,  Blackened Breast Fillet 190, American Cheese 50, Tomato 0, Pickle Spear 0

Grilled Chicken Sandwich Meal (1130 cal)

Crinkle Fries 360, Brioche Bun 360, Lettuce 0, Grilled Breast Fillet 190, Honey Mustard 220

Chicken Sandwich Salad Meal (1020 cal)

Crinkle Fries 360, Lettuce 0, Mayo 230, Tomato 0, Chicken Salad 260, Honey Wheat Bread 170

Big Zak Snak Meal (950 cal) - One of my usual lunch orders, SMH

Crinkle Fries 360, 3 Chicken Fingers 260, Zax Sauce 180, Texas Toast 150

SALADS

The Zensation Salad (1115 cal)

Salad Base 25, 4 Chicken Fingers 350, Wonton Strips 80, Asian Slaw 70, Honey Sesame Sauce 70, Egg Roll 120, Citrus Vinaigrette 400 

The House Salad, Fried (No dressing) (765 cal) 

Texas Toast 150, Salad Base 25, Cheddar Jack Cheese 120, Roma Tomatoes 10, Cucumbers 0, Fried Onions 110, 4 Chicken Fingers 350          

The Caesar Salad, Fried (No dressing) (730 cal) 

 4 Chicken Fingers 350, Caesar Salad Base 20, 2 pc Bacon 50, Parmesan Cheese 110, Croutons 200

The House Salad, Grilled (No dressing) (605 cal)  - The other usual order

 Grilled Breast Fillet 190, Texas Toast 150, Salad Base 25, Cheddar Jack Cheese 120, Roma Tomatoes 10, Cucumbers 0, Fried Onions 110

The Caesar Salad, Grilled (No dressing) (570 cal)

Grilled Breast Fillet 190, Caesar Salad Base 20, 2 pc Bacon 50, Parmesan Cheese 110, Croutons 200

FINGERS/WINGS ONLY

5 Chicken Fingerz w/Sauce (610 cal)

5 Buffalo Wings w/Ranch (540 cal)

5 Boneless Wings w/no sauce (480 cal)

SIDES

Crinkle Fries, regular (360 cal)

Onion Rings, side (500 cal) 

 Cole Slaw (140 cal)

SWEETS

White Macadamia Nut Cookie (170 cal)

Birthday Cake Milkshake (860 cal)

Brownie Batter Milkshake (847 cal)

Vanilla Milkshake (825 cal) 

Build your meal to see just how many calories you have been eating in one meal here.

A Love/Hate Relationship: McDonald's

Since starting this healthy living concept (in conjunction with the weight loss competition),  my friend J. and I have been looking into the nutritional content of the lunches that we eat during the work week.  There is nothing like the feeling of dread that you get when you realize that your favorite grilled chicken salad has a ridiculously high number of calories.  A salad!!! 

We have now realized that we need to be better prepared before we even leave the office.   While fixing your own lunch is the best way to keep track of what you are eating, you do not always have that option.  Sometimes you wake up late, have a packed schedule or are running errands around town and you shouldn't have to avoid fast food restaurants for the rest of your life.  Plus, many of them have been modifying their menus to include healthier options that can provide you with a healthy, tasty meal on the go.

So, let me introduce you to a new series called "A Love/Hate Relationship".  These posts will highlight some of the best and worst options from the fast food and casual dining restaurants that most of us will frequent at some point on this "Get Fit!" journey. 

Who wins the honor of Post Numero Uno?  McDonald's

Let me put all of my business in the streets and say that my favorite meals are the Angus Deluxe Burger, Filet-o-Fish, Premium Crispy Chicken and Southern Style Chicken Meals.  Now let us take a look at just what I have been eating when you factor in that medium fry (380 cal /19g fat) and Coke (210 cal):

• The Angus Deluxe (Cal 750/Fat 39g) ~~~ Meal (Cal 1340/Fat 58g) 
• The Filet-o-Fish  (Cal 380/Fat 18g) ~~~ Meal (Cal 970/Fat 37g) 
• The Premium Crispy Chicken (Cal 510/Fat 22g) ~~~ Meal (Cal 1100/Fat 41g)  
• The Southern Style Chicken (Cal 420/Fat 19g) ~~~ Meal (Cal 1010/Fat 38g)  

Le Sigh.  I do love the fries, but just how many calories have I been consuming every day?  After perusing the nutritional information provided on the McDonald's website, I have found some better options. 

Breakfast 

Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait (Cal 150/Fat 2g)

Fruit & Maple Oatmeal (Cal 290/Fat 4.5g)

Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without Brown Sugar (Cal 260/Fat 4.5g)

Lunch/Dinner

Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken (Cal 190/Fat 5g)

Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken (Cal 290/Fat 8g)

Grilled Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap (Cal 250/Fat 8g)

Grilled Ranch Snack Wrap (Cal 270/Fat 12g)

Hamburger (Cal 250/Fat 9g)

Cheeseburger (Cal 300/Fat 12g)

Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich (Cal 350/Fat 9g)

Sides

Salad (Cal 20/Fat 0g)

Apple Slices (Cal 15/Fat 0g)

Small French Fries (Cal 230/Fat 11)

Once you throw in a diet soda or unsweetened tea, you have a decent meal!  Keep in mind that while this is not something that you should order on a daily basis, it will provide you with an option that is not 90% of your daily calories!