Deceptive Dining: Don’t be an April Fool

We make it no secret here at FBG headquarters that we’re all about everything in moderation. We splurge at times just like anyone else. But don’t you hate it when you think you’re being healthy at a restaurant, and you find out that you’re sabotaging yourself? It’s like an April Fool’s joke that’s not funny.

A trip recently to Chevy’s where they had the calorie counts right there on the menu (yay!) had me going for the seafood enchiladas when I saw that a salad I was thinking about had nearly the same calorie count. Here’s the lowdown on a few menu items you might think are healthy, but boy, are they sneaky.

Credit: iamchanelle

Villainous veggie or terrible turkey burgers
Just because you’re not eating red meat doesn’t mean that a burger is going to be light in the calorie department when you’re dining out. Smothered in sauces, cheese and bacon, the turkey version can add up to be just as many calories as a regular burger. For instance, at Ruby Tuesday’s, the classic burger comes in at 1,066 calories, whereas the turkey burger still hits 866, and the avocado turkey burger bangs out 1,088—more than the regular burger! Red Robin’s turkey burger logs in at 704 calories, an improvement for sure, but not exactly a light meal (and the salmon burger comes in at 745).

FBG tip: Go for a burger if you want it, but if you’re trying to lighten the load, opt out of special sauces, cheeses and the addition of other fatty meats.

Treacherous taco salad

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Really, watch out for any salad at a restaurant because you just never know what tricks will be thrown in. But when in a Mexican restaurant, watch out for the treacherous taco salad. With a deep-fried crunchy shell and loads of sour cream and guacamole, your salad is probably packing quite the caloric punch. A Taco Bell Fiesta Taco Salad comes in at 820 calories. Ordering Fresco style, though, which includes beans, beef, lettuce, tomato and salsa, and nixes the sour cream, shell and tortilla strips, knocks the count down to 270. (In fact, order anything Fresco style at Taco Bell, and you’re making your meal lighter by a long shot.)

FBG tip: When and if ordering a taco salad, try to customize. Ask them to hold off on sour cream, go light on cheese and any dressing, and even have them hold the shell if you think you’ll devour it all. Or, get all of the extras on the side if it’ll help you monitor your meal.

Fishy products

Credit: rick

You think you’re being so healthy not eating red meat when you order fish. But think again. If you’re ordering a tuna salad sandwich at Subway, for instance, you’re clocking in 530 calories because all that mayo ratchets up the caloric cost. Why go with mayo-laced tuna when you could go for any of the eight Subway sandwiches that come in at 370 or less?

FBG tip: Opt out of fish if it’s smothered in mayo or battered, deep fried and served with “chips.”

Light Peril
While you’re almost guaranteed to be doing better if you go for a restaurant’s light fare, sometimes the calories are still higher than you’d like to think. Plus, we’ve read some news that sometimes these “light” menu items actually have more calories and fat than are claimed on the menus.

FBG tip: Opt for the light items when available, but keep in mind that the calorie count still depends on the person making the meal. Another good reason to dine in! —Erin

For a great reference for deceptive dining, check out Hungry Girl’s Chew The Right Thing section where Lisa Lillien shows healthy alternatives for disastrous menu items.