Dining Out Dos

Eating out at The Avenue doesn’t have to derail your diet. Choose one of these seven healthy options (one for every day of the week!) for a meal that’s light, but still bursting with flavor.

Chili’s Grill & Bar

What to Order: Have your steak and eat it, too, and still stick with your diet by picking the 520-calorie Classic Sirloin (6 oz.) meal with sweet corn on the cob (with butter!) and steamed broccoli as your sides.

Ted’s Montana Grill

What to Order: Need something healthy to take the edge off while waiting for your meal? Skip the sliders, and go straight for the tasty Tomato and Onion Salad for a starter under 200 calories. Your best sandwich choice is the Bison Burger (8 oz.) on a wheat bun. Skip the fries and ask for steamed asparagus or carrots sans butter.

Cheeky

What to Order: Start with one of Cheeky’s signature libations from “The Skinny” drink menu, which includes a variety of scratch-made margaritas for 200 calories or less. Choices include Blackberry Cilantro, which muddles together the name’s ingredients with a drizzle of agave nectar, and Prickly-Orange, which includes prickly pear nectar and a touch of basil for a taste that is as light on your lips as it is on your hips. When it’s time to choose your main meal, opt for a trio of fire roasted veggie tacos to get your daily dose of veggies without skimping on flavor. The mix includes sweet red peppers, onion, zucchini and mushrooms all topped with a smoky morita salsa.

Panera Bread

What to Order: The Lentil Quinoa Broth Bowl with Chicken, a measly 390 calories, will give you energy that lasts, thanks to its mix of lean protein and high-fiber veggies. Pair it with an Acia Berry Iced Tea to feel like you’re splurging without adding a single calorie while sipping. Have a sweet tooth? You can even order dessert: the Strawberry Rhubarb Mini Cake rings in at 250 calories.

Aspens Signature Steaks

What to Order: If dinner out with your sweetie has you dining at Aspens, ask for the Grilled Atlantic Salmon with arugula pesto. Don’t let salmon’s high fat content deter you – recent studies show the fish’s omega-3 fatty acids may help aid weight loss. The dish comes married with roasted tomato spaghetti squash and a light lemon vinaigrette.

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza

What to Order: Skip the meat-heavy pizzas in favor (or should we say flavor?) of the Wood Roasted Vegetable Pizza on Wheat Dough, which has a respectable 850 calories and less than half the fat of other options.

Romano's Macaroni Grill

What to Order: Zone in on the “Lite” menu, which offers four options, all under 600 calories. Or create your own pasta and load it up with smart toppings. Suggestion: start with the a Capellini with Pomodoro sauce, then add grilled shrimp, asparagus and roasted tomatoes for a delicious dining experience under 750 calories.

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Bon appetit!