Low-Carb Friendly Restaurants?

[Spruce Goose]

I haven't eaten out too much since starting on the plan. When I have, usually I've been lucky to find nutritional information on the restaurant prior to going so I had a good idea of what to get.

The other day I was going through my Google Reader RSS feeds and read Jimmy Moore's article "Cracker Barrel: A Low-Carb Diet Utopia" (http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2007/05/cracker-barrel-low-carb-diet-utopia.html).

After that I was on the Cracker Barrel site looking at their options for breakfast, lunch and dinner (http://www.crackerbarrel.com/menu-dinnerlowcarb.cfm?doc_id=904). I was surprised to actually be interested in several of the options. It's cool they have a separate section with all the info listed.

My wife and I ended up going last Friday night and both had the Half Pound Bacon Cheeseburger with the tossed salad as our side. All I can say is that I will be going back :)

So, do you have any fave restaurants where there are plenty of low-carb options?

[Missy]

You can, with the RIGHT knowledge turn just about ANY restaurant into a "low carb option". Just focus on the MEAT, and a side of salad, cottage cheese and/or steamed veggies...and wahhhlaaa...YOUR on PLAN! :D

DO NOT hesitate to "order" things without buns or fries. I do it ALL the time regardless of the restaurant I'm eating at...and the waitress's don't bat and eye!

[WakefieldWendy]

DO NOT hesitate to "order" things without buns or fries. I do it ALL the time regardless of the restaurant I'm eating at...and the waitress's don't bat and eye!

This also applies to ordering entrees (any kind of meat or fish or poultry, but be careful of coatings and sauces) without the accompanying potato, pasta or some other starch. Ask for extra veggies (will always be accommodate in my experience), or sometimes even a side salad instead (sometimes for an extra charge).

Other good choices are main course salads (chef's salad, chicken or steak caesar etc.). Ask for no croutons. If it comes in a bread bowl, ask for no bread bowl, or just don't eat it. (I find they are usually happy to put it on something other than a bread bowl, and then it doesn't tempt me). Choose a different dressing if the "named" dressing is likely to be sweet.

At a diner type place, you can always order breakfast (eggs and meat). Usually they will replace potatoes with tomatos or sometimes fruit.

I can eat low-carb in almost any restaurant. I find it most difficult in Thai or Indian places - not because there aren't low-carb options, but because I love rice with curries.

[Gaelen]

I have to agree...rather than choose a labeled 'low carb' option, I tend to choose the items I know will be on plan.

There's not much you can do to a grilled piece of fish, for instance, that would make it too high carb for a single meal. Even marinades, which are only partially absorbed by the protein and very hard to count anyway, won't likely add more than 15g ECC to a single portion...and far more likely they'll only add 5g ECC or less.

I order whatever protein strikes my fancy, and either a salad to go with it or take a look at the salad offerings. I'm pretty good at passing up the bread basket, and I've never had a salad come with so many croutons that it would derail me. I also check out the soup offerings.

My standby in Indian restaurants is palak paneer or saag paneer or tandoori chicken, and I do pass up the bread there and ask for no rice. I stay away from biryani and any other type of rice dish. In Thai restaurants I order Tom Ka (coconut pumpkin soup) and spicy marinated shrimp.

In Italian restaurants, I go for eggplant rolletini or simple chicken, fish or veal dishes, and I can usually ask that they not be breaded. And when I feel like splurging, I have stuffed calamari if it's offered--it's squid tubes stuffed with herbed ricotta, and it's never breaded.

Enjoy!