Eat this, not that!

So I've probably written about this topic in some shape or form already because it's one of my crazy-makers :) It's almost like it's a trick that restaurants/fast food places make you believe something is healthy and it's not. Well, I can't put all the fault on the restaurants but somewhere down the line we have come to believe that if the word "salad" or "turkey" or "tuna" is in the item's name, then by golly, it MUST be good for you! Sooo not necessarily true!

It was a proud Mama moment the other day when my daughter asked the Arby's order taker if he knew the nutritional info for the Arby's sauce (you go, girl-haha!) But then (as I realized that I am a complete freak!) I actually got excited when he pulled off this giant sheet with ALL the foods listed-with ALL the info-and he gave it to me! WhooHoo! (OK-I wasn't that excited...It really DOES make me sound like an obsessive weirdo, I know.)

I am constantly surprised-still-when I discover something I thought was a good choice-wasn't! In this case I had opted for the horseradish sauce, aka "Horsey Sauce"-until I found out that one package is 50 calories-45 of those are Fat! Yikes, do the math :) Horseradish is usually ok, but I bet this was mixed with mayo or something.

I have struggled with my weight my entire life-even during the times that I am within 5 or so pounds of my "goal" weight-it doesn't come easily! Seriously, sometimes I think I could easily go back to being a cute, chubby girl, but... I like my clothes and would hate to have nothing fit any more. Been there, done that. I have no desire to not want to go somewhere because I look fat in everything. (Still happens) And if you know how I feel about tags in my clothes and seams in my socks-then how cranky do you think I am when my waistband is cutting into my belly!

OK-back to the topic. I've learned to pretty much know what I am going to order before I go out to eat. Fortunately, most restaurants/fast food places now have their nutritional info on their websites. And, no, I don't do this every time I go out, once I know it-I know it :) Just look at this:

At a one of my favorite places I realized that the 8" roast beef was 533 cal/24 grams fat, but... leave the Hellman's off and it's 340 cal/3 fat grams! If you really like mayo, they can give you a packet of the light stuff. I do :(

BUT-here's where it makes me crazy-the 8" tuna? 687 cal/32 fat grams-and you can't take the mayo out! And the 8" turkey?? 516 cal/22 fat grams-leave the mayo off-323 calories/less than 1 gram of fat!

Lots of eating establishments offer an interative online menu (google it) where you can calculate different options-oh, what fun, right? But for me, I enjoy it every bit as much, maybe more, knowing that I didn't just eat a full day of calories/fat in one chicken burrito with 1210 calories and 55 fat grams! (chicken is always a good choice, right? NOT.)

My final thoughts, like I always say: splurge in moderation on the stuff you absolutely love-and ignore the rest-it's not worth it :)

PS: A Taco Salad is NOT a good choice-the shell, cheese and sour cream alone is at least a day's worth of the fat and calories you should consume!!! One restaurant I frequent it's 1500 calories and 102 grams of fat!! OMG!