When trying to lose weight, ordering a salad at a restaurant might seem like the healthiest choice. However, many restaurant salads are packed with hidden calories from creamy dressings, fried toppings, and excessive cheese, making them less weight-loss-friendly than expected. While salads can be a nutritious option, it’s important to be mindful of ingredients that may sabotage your goals.
Nutrition expert Blake, a TikTok creator who has almost 500K followers on the app, recently explained why ordering a salad at restaurants might be doing you more harm than good when it comes to your weight loss journey. Read on to learn more.
@thenutritionnarcSalads are the worst thing to get at a restaurant for weight loss original sound – Blake | NARC
Why A Salad Is ‘The Worst Thing’ To Order At A Restaurant
“Salad is the worst possible thing you can get for weight loss when you go out to eat. First off, these can be loaded with calories,” he notes. If you’re wondering why these salads tend to taste so good, he reveals that it’s usually thanks to butter and oil.
One example of a calorie-bomb salad is The Cheesecake Factory’s Cobb Salad which is a whopping 1540 calories! It also has 124 grams of fat.
California Pizza Kitchen’s Grilled Steak Salad may sound healthy since it’s “grilled,” but nope! Blake highlights its 1270 calories and 101 grams of fat.
The list continues! Buffalo Wild Wings Santa Fe Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing & Soft Tortillas has 1080 calories along with 63 grams of fat.
“It is rare that a salad is actually a low calorie [option] on a restaurant menu,” Blake adds. These salads don’t help cure any cravings and are also some of the “worst cheat meals” of all time due to deceiving menu tactics. “If you got the 1400-calorie cheeseburger, at least you would have been satisfied,” he says.
Another con is paying high prices for things such as lettuce, butter, and ranch dressing. Many of these salads can be recreated at home for cheaper without the unnecessary calories.
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Better Hack for Weight Loss
Blake recommends an easy and tasty hack. “If you’re trying to stay on track, what you should do is just get a tasty protein.”
He recommends a steak, which usually falls around 600-700 calories and 122 grams of protein. “Not only is it a lot better tasting than the salad, it also has incredible macros.” If steak isn’t your thing, he suggests some grilled chicken tacos or anything that will give you a ton of protein.” Be careful with the sides and toppings, as they can sabotage the calorie count.
