American restaurants are doing it. The biggest chains are on board with it. Why? Some people are actually beginning to care about how many calories slip under the radar in each meal they eat, and the restaurants are catering to that. I just hope it’s not a fad.
Applebee’s under 550 – great to have these options for a full-plated meal out
Friendly’s under 555 – bravo, but that not-so-friendly, triple-scoop sundae isn’t included in the count!
TGI Friday’s “Right portion, Right price” - although it’s not a new campaign, this is a section of the menu features low-carb and/or low-fat entrees
Seasons 52 - continues to be the best choice in this club because every item on the menu is under 475 calories
Keep in mind, staying in and being the master of your own waistline will always win. All of these options still allow a “cook” to decide the fate of what the establishment’s patrons ingest, but nonetheless it is encouraging to see this shift in commercial eating.
See, not all of my posts are negative. I can acknowledge progress when I see it!
Last year, Philadelphia officials implemented a new law that dramatically impacted its diverse food neighborhood: All restaurants with a Philly address must clearly display caloric amounts of each menu item. I’d like to think some people changed their usual, uneducated choices after seeing this information. There’s nothing like a four-digit dissuasion staring back when tempted to order that #3 meal… super-sized. This is a particularly unique change, not to the food or preparation itself, but to the information provided to consumers - aka education.
Even the red-headed, fast food queen introduced French fries that are “naturally-cut” and seasoned with sea salt. The trouble with that one? It just causes me to think, “If they weren’t cut ‘naturally’ until now, what was the process before?” I’m sure I don’t want to know.
Although I will not be seen in these restaurant chains (save Seasons and maybe the occasional Frosty) the aforementioned points are victories for America in the grand scheme of things. When I’m hearing news reports on obese America or its diabetic tendencies every week, these calorie-restrictive menus offer a glimmer of hope in the increasingly darkening world of this country’s health.
A mini round of congratulations is in order for some restaurants of “the fast-food nation.” Now if we can only shed that stigma…
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