Each year, millions of people struggle to stick to a healthy diet or lose weight. At home, many people find it easy to keep calories, sodium, and portions in check. However, when eating out, it's hard to find things that are as healthy as a home cooked meal. Most would think that a salad would always be the best option when eating out, but that's not always the case. Listed below are five meals that explain how "healthy" salads are ruining your diet.
1. Sheila's Chicken Avocado Salad from Cheesecake Factory
At first glance, this seems like a healthy choice for dinner. It's a salad, how could it be unhealthy? Well, here you go:
Calories: 1870
Sodium: 2,905 Milligrams
This salad racks up almost 100% of your recommended daily calorie intake, and almost double the recommended sodium intake. People might order this salad thinking they are making a good choice, but in reality, this salad has more calories than Cheesecake Factory's Bacon Bacon Burger.
2. Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad from Applebee's
Again, it's just a salad. Couldn't be that bad, right? Wrong.
Calories: 1,290
Sodium: 2,300 Milligrams
Applebee's attempts to lighten up the fried chicken version of this salad by making it with grilled chicken, but it only saves around 150 calories. Seems suspicious. Clocking in at almost 1,300 calories and loaded with sodium, this salad is not a nutritious option. If you must dine at this chain, go for the Pepper-Crusted Sirloin and Grains, which will give you lots of protein for only 380 calories.
3. BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad from California Pizza Kitchen
Chicken is an excellent protein source, full of minerals and nutrients. However, the same can't be said about this salad.
Calories: 1,133
Sodium: 1,460 Milligrams
While this meal seems tasty, you might as well eat a few slices of pizza from this chain. The ranch dressing and crispy tortilla strips add on the calories big time. Instead, go for the Cedar Plank Salmon, which lands at a respectable 650 calories.
4. Florida Cobb Salad from Bonefish Grill
Grilled chicken, avocado, tomatoes... it seems so innocent. That is, until you add in the blue cheese and citrus dressing.
Calories: 897
Sodium: 879 Milligrams
This salad, like most, seems like it would be a wholesome choice. However, after piling on the cheese and dressing, the calories skyrocket. Instead, go for a small grilled salmon for only 370 calories.
5. Margherita Chicken Flatbread Salad from Chili's
This seems like a good choice, loaded with grilled chicken and plenty of healthy fats to keep you full. But that comes with a price.
Calories: 1,090
Sodium: 2,200 Milligrams
The avocado, cheese, and honey-lime dressing all add up to create one calorie-dense salad with enough sodium to last you two days. Go with the Mango-Chile Chicken for a lower calorie option, at just 520 calories and tons of flavor.
While it is okay to splurge on a meal once in a while, but be aware of what you're eating. Restaurants use tons of oil and sugar in unexpected ways that only pile on calories. So, eat more meals at home; they usually taste better anyway.