Low Point Chain Restaurant Choices
Healthier Options for the Weight Watchers Point System Diet Plan
Apr 28, 2008
Learning how to make healthy choices at a restaurant can be a challenge, especially if you're counting points on the Weight Watchers point system. Fortunately, many chain restaurants list calorie, fat, and fiber values on their websites, so with a little research, you can find lower point options. Here are some of the chain restaurants that offer a decent number of healthier choices, along with point values.
Applebees
Applebees may be one of the easiest places to eat a low-point meal because they have their own Weight Watchers menu. The point value of these items is listed right on the menu. Their choices are as follows:
- Italian Chicken & Portobello Sandwich: 7 points, 360 calories, 6 grams far, 11 grams fiber
- Steak & Portobellos: 7 points, 330 calories, 10 grams fat, 8 grams fiber
- Tortilla Chicken Melt : 10 points, 480 calories,13 grams fat, 6 grams fiber
- Southwest Cobb Salad: 9 points, 440 calories, 8 grams fat, 13 grams fiber
- Teriyaki Steak 'N Shrimp Skewers: 7 points, 370 calories, 7 grams fat, 7 grams fiber
- Cajun Lime Tilapia: 6 points, 310 cal, 6 grams fat, 9 grams fiber
- Grilled Shrimp Skewer Salad: 4 points, 210 calories, 2 grams fat, 7 grams fiber
- Confetti Chicken: 7 points, 370 calories, 7 grams fat, 9 grams fiber
- Onion Soup Au Gratin: 3 points, 150 calories, 8 grams fat, 1 gram fiber
- Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake: 4 points, 230 calories, 3 grams fat, 3 grams fiber
TGIFriday's
With its large menu, Friday's tries to appeal to a wide audience, and this includes diners in search of healthier options. Here are a few healthier choices at TGIFridays. (Note that fiber values are not available.)
- Friday's Gardenburger: 10 points, 445 calories, 9 grams fat
- Turkey Burger: 10 points, 410 calories, 19 grams fat
- Pacific Coast Chicken: 9 points, 415 calories, 8 grams fat
- Pacific Coast Tuna: 9 points, 410 calories, 8 grams fat
- Fresh Vegetable Medley with Rice: 9 points, 407 calories, 8 grams fat
Olive Garden
Like all Italian restaurants, the Olive Garden offers some cheese and oil laden choices that aren't the least bit point friendly. However, they also offer a Garden Fare menu with some lighter choices. Some of these are lower in points than others. However, keep in mind that servings at the Olive Garden are big, so any of these dishes can be shared or cut down to a more reasonable portion. Keep in mind that lunch portions are smaller.
- Capellini Pomodoro, Lunch: 8 points, 409 calories, 9 grams fat, 6 grams fiber
- Capellini Pomodoro, Dinner: 13 points, 644 calories, 14 grams fat, 10 grams fiber
- Linguine alla Marinara, Lunch: 6 points, 340 calories, 6 grams fat, 5 grams fiber
- Linguine alla Marinara, Dinner: 10 points, 510 calories, 8 grams fat, 7 grams fiber
- Shrimp Primavera, Lunch: 10 points, 483 calories, 11 grams fat, 6 grams fiber
- Shrimp Primavera, Dinner: 15 points, 706 calories, 18 grams fat, 8 grams fiber
- Pork Filettino with Vegetables, Dinner: 7 points, 340 calories, 9 grams fat, 0 grams fiber
- Salmon Piccata with vegetables, Dinner: 10 points, 440 calories, 21 grams fat, 0 grams fiber
- Minestrone Soup: 2 points, 160 calories, 1 gram fat, 6 grams fiber
Chili's
Chili's has some truly high-point nightmares, like a 45-point fajita combo and a 30-point serving of chocolate cake! However, they also have the Guiltless Grill, which provides some more reasonable alternatives:
- Guiltless Black Bean Burger: 13 points, 650 calories, 12 grams fat, 26 grams fiber
- Guiltless Grilled Chicken Pita: 11 points, 550 calories, 9 grams fat, 13 grams fiber
- Guiltless Chicken Sandwich: 9 points, 290 calories, 8 grams fat, 11 grams fiber
- Guiltless Chicken Platter: 11 points, 580 calories, 9 grams fat, 5 grams fiber
- Guiltless Grilled Salmon: 10 points, 650 480 calories, 14 grams fat, 10 grams fiber
- Guiltless Tomato Basil Pasta: 13 points, 650 calories, 14 grams fat, 7 grams fiber
