The best and worst menu items in the olive garden

Known for its many pasta dishes, Olive Garden offers both health care meals and meals up.


We know thePaussiels with olive garden Are probably what prevents customers from returning for more, however, they offer many other choices (a whole menu of any value) and it is time to sort the unwanted instructions of those moderately healthy. Ofappetizers to thePasta dishes to theDecadent desserts, we examined everything on the Olive Garden menu and we called Kelli McGrane MS, RD for the Food Tracking ApplicationLoose it! To deal with menu items, menu items that they think are the best for you, as well as the ones it recommends you avoid you.

Here are the best and the worst menu items in the olive garden.

Appetizers

Worst: loaded pasta chips

olive garden loaded pasta chips
Courtesy of the olive garden

1,410 calories, 92 g of grease (29 g saturated grease, 1 g of trans grease), 2,790 mg sodium, 94 g of carbohydrates (7 g of fiber, 9 g of sugar), 55 g protein

We believe that loaded pasta chips are code for loaded nachos.

"The worst aperitif option is the pasta chips loaded with 1,410 calories," says McGrane.

This aperitif is not only the most caloric, but also the most fat and sodium. Even something so dense that Lasagna Fritta would be a better option at 1,070 calories, 71 grams of fat and 1,650 milligrams of sodium. If you divide this among several people, you do not completely try your day of fat and sodium.

Best: chicken fingers

olive garden chicken tenders
Courtesy of the olive garden

220 calories, 11 g of grease (1 g saturated grease, 0 g of trans fat), 430 mg of sodium, 12 g of carbohydrates (0 g of fiber, 0 g sugar), 19 g protein

"Your best bet on the aperitif list is the chicken fingers as a command only provides 220 calories, 1 gram of saturated grease, 430 mg sodium and 0 grams of sugar, while containing a good amount of protein with 19 Grams, "says McGrane." Even if you include Marinara's dip sauce, you'll always be lower in sodium, total fat and saturated grease as most other options. "

Soups and salads

Worse: chicken soup and gnocchi

Courtesy of the olive garden

230 calories, 12 g of grease (4.5 g saturated grease, 0 g of trans grease), 1,290 mg of sodium, 22 g of carbohydrates (1 g of fiber, 4 g of sugar), 11 g protein

"It's a close call between chicken soup and gnocchi and Zuppa Toscana, however, with more than half of your daily sodium needs and nearly twice as a saturated fat that is recommended by serving, the Chicken soup and gnocchi is the least healthy, "said McGrane.

Best: Minestrone soup

olive garden minestrone soup
Josh N./YELP

110 calories, 1 g of grease (0 g saturated grease, 0 g of trans grease), 810 mg of sodium, 17 g of carbohydrates (4 g of fiber, 4 g of sugar), 5 g protein

"While a salad without vinaigrette is the healthiest option, most of us want to dress on a salad. Instead, go get the minestrone soup that counts only 110 calories, 1 gram of fat , 0 grams of saturated fat, 4 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein, "says McGane." Although it contains 810 mg of sodium, unless you choose a salad without dressing, all options for soup and salad will be raised in sodium. "

Lunch article

Worst: meat pizza bowl

olive garden meatball pizza bowl
Courtesy of the olive garden

950 calories, 56 g of grease (29 g saturated grease, 0.5 g of trans grease), 2,500 mg sodium, 64 g of carbohydrates (5 g of fibers, 7 g of sugar), 46 g protein

Only the olive garden would find a way to marry meatballs and pizza in a giant dish.

"The meat pizza bowl is one of the highest calorie options. It is also the second highest in total fat with 56 grams and 29 grams of saturated fat," explains McGrane.

Even more worrying about this meal is its sodium content - it exceeds theRecommended daily allowance 2,300 milligrams. Do you really want to eat half a day of calories and the whole day of sodium at lunch? We agree with McGrane when she says it's better to transmit this one.

Best: spaghetti with meat sauce

olive garden spaghetti meat sauce
Courtesy of the olive garden

360 calories, 12 g of grease (3.5 g saturated grease, 0 g of trans grease), 530 mg of sodium, 51 g of carbohydrates (3 g of fiber, 9 g of sugar), 14 g protein

Surprisingly, the least caloric and low-fat option is spaghetti with meat sauce.

"It also has the slightest amount of lunch options sodium, with 530 milligrams," says McGrane.

Take a fork and turn to Twirling!

RELATED: here are theEasy recipes at home It helps you lose weight.

Tastes of Mediterranean and classic recipes

Worse: Visit of Italy

Olive garden tour of italy
Courtesy of the olive garden

1,520 calories, 96 g of grease (48 g saturated grease, 1.5 g of trans grease), 3,250 mg sodium, 92 g of carbohydrates (6 g of fiber, 19 g sugar), 75 g of protein

"The visit of Italy is by far the least healthy option on the dinner menu as it is the highest of calories, total fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugar," explains McGrane. "By polishing this dish, you will consume 1000 milligrams more than the recommended daily sodium limit, almost all your calories for the day and more than twice the recommended limit of saturated fat."

Is it really a surprise? The combined dish Three main dishes-Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico and Fettuccine Alfredo-on a dinner plate. It's tripling calories for a reason!

Best: shrimp scampi

Courtesy of the olive garden

510 calories, 20 g of grease (7 g saturated grease, 0.5 g of trans fat), 960 mg of sodium, 54 g of carbohydrates (4 g of fiber, 5 g of sugar), 29 g protein

"For dinner, the scampe shrimp on the tastes of the Mediterranean is your healthier bet, because it only has 510 calories and is one of the lowest options of saturated fat and sodium while being Rich in protein, "she says.

McGrane wants to emphasize that a meal of only 510 calories containing nearly 1,000 milligrams of sodium is still high, however. So, make sure to eat low sodium foods before dinner if you are going to order this option.

Sides

Worst: Parmesan garlic fries

olive garden garlic parmesan fries
Faasili I./Yelp

260 calories, 13 g of fat (satred fat, 1.5 g of trans grease), 400 mg of sodium, 92 g of carbohydrates (<1 g of fiber, 19 g sugar), 75 g protein

"Parmesan garlic fries are the least healthy option with 260 calories, 13 grams of fat, 400 mg sodium and less than 1 gram of fibers," explains McGrane.

To be fair, there are only four sides: parmesan fries with garlic, mashed potatoes with garlic, zucchini crusts of parmesan and broccoli steamed. So, in all these cases, fries are the least healthy.

Best: Steam Broccoli

Broccoli on a wooden cutting board
Refuge

Calories, 0 g of fat (0 g saturated grease, 0 g of trans grease), 35 mg of sodium, 7 g of carbohydrates (4 g of fibers, 3 g sugar), 4 g protein

"Steam baked broccoli is the healthiest side with only 35 calories, 0 grams of fat, only 35 mg sodium and a high fiber," explains McGrane.

We agree! We told any chance to add more vegetables to your plate.

Desserts

Worst: Brownie chocolate lasagna

Courtesy of the olive garden

910 calories, 52 g of fat (27 g saturated grease, 1.5 g of trans grease), 580 mg of sodium, 144 g of carbohydrates (6 g of fiber, 103 g of sugar), 13 g protein

"Brownie chocolate lasagna contains more sugar than 9 glazed donuts," explains McGrane. "With 103 grams of sugar, 144 grams of carbohydrates, 27 grams of saturated fat and 910 calories, this is one of the least healthy options on the entire menu".

The dessert is not supposed to be twice the size of your main meal, but it should be half!

Best: Dolcini Mini desserts-amaretto Tiramisu

Courtesy of the olive garden

220 calories, 17 g of grease (10 g saturated grease, 0 g of trans fat), 65 mg of sodium, 14 g of carbohydrates (0 g of fiber, 11 g of sugar), 3 g protein

"Your safest bets are the Mini-desserts Dolcini, in particular, the Amaretto Tiramisu," explains McGrane. "While 10 grams of saturated grease are on the upper side, it contains only 230 calories, 11 grams of sugar (the lowest dessert options) and 65 milligrams of sodium."

Also, how are these desserts cute? The size of the game is correct for these sweet treats.


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