Keep track of your calories when dining out
Many casual restaurants and even fast-food joints offer heart-healthy and calorie-conscious selections, but if your eye wanders past those menu items to the megaburgers and platters of fries, beware. Some of them pack all the calories your body needs to get it through the whole day, and then some. The number of calories you need to maintain your body weight or to lose weight depends on your age, gender and activity level. The USDA roughly estimates you need 2,000 and 3,200 calories per day to maintain your current weight.
Below are some menu options from the Web sites of fast-food and casual dining chains with Treasure Valley locations. These are a few that post nutritional information. Many offer none, or only post information on low-calorie menu items. Check with the restaurants or their Web sites for the latest information.
Red Robin
(Doesn’t include beverage.)
Royal Red Robin burger, with steak fries, 1,724 calories
Bacon cheeseburger with steak fries, 1,420 calories.
Lettuce-wrapped burger with cheese, 439 calories
KFC
(Doesn’t include beverage.)
Meal of original recipe drumstick and thigh, mashed potatoes and gravy, and coleslaw, 750 calories
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese, small fries, small Coke, 890 calories.
Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken, Newman’s own ranch dressing, 1 percent low fat milk jug, 600 calories
Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, large french fries, large Coke Classic, 1,550 calories
Olive Garden
Low-fat choices do not include beverage, soup, salad or breadsticks. No information is readily available on the Web site for menu items that are not for special dietary needs.
Capellini Pomodoro, 840 calories
Venetian Apricot Chicken, 380 calories
Linguine alla Marinara, 430 calories
Shrimp Primavera, 730 calories
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
(Calories include side dishes, but not beverages.)
Primo Chicken Parmesan, Dinner, 2,220 calories
Pollo Magro "Skinny Chicken," 330 calories
New York Cheesecake with Caramel Fudge Sauce, 1,610 calories