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July 1, 2009
The Olive Garden Diet
Now I'm not suggesting that anyone make a habit of this, but I ate two meals at the Olive Garden yesterday. There was one right outside my hotel, and it was near where my mother lives, so between meetings we met for lunch. I had the linguine alla marinara (310) lunch portion and a salad, no dressing. Then after my last meeting we met for a late light dinner, and had minestrone soup (100) and a salad, again no dressing. It was a horrendously low protein and low fat day for me, but the chance to eat calorie controlled pasta is not something I'm willing to give up!
For the record, I do not think that Olive Garden is Italian any more than I think that Taco Bell is Mexican. I've lived in Philly too long to mistake it for real Italian. That being said, I love it! My old employee Lisa, the girl from England, used to love Olive Garden too... we'd eat there when we were on the road. Made me miss her to be there, and even more so to be in Scranton.
Today was a more normal day, even though I'm on the road. Breakfast was a whey protein shake with skim milk and flax oil while I drove here from Reading from 5 am to 7 am. Lunch was a garden salad with a cup of the cottage cheese that I brought from home, plus a teaspoon of the flax oil so lovingly packed by MR in multiple ice packs and a cooler bag. Dinner was a Subway Club salad. After my last meeting, which starts at 7:30 pm, I plan to enjoy a nice glass of wine in my room and go to bed! It's been a long day: two hour sunrise drive, meetings at 7:30 am, 1:30 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm, and I took Bikram yoga in between the morning meetings! It was an amazing class... a guy taught it, one I'd never met, and I got to contemplate the fact that the one time a cute guy is teaching my yoga class, I am wearing the most hideous yoga outfit I've ever put on. Apparently the sky blue yoga top one size too large was a Poor Life Choice. I'm sure it would look good on someone... else. Oh well, no matter, I got an incredible workout, and learned a lot in the process. I was still sore from Monday and probably didn't drink enough water beforehand, so I wasn't very good, but I'm extremely accustomed to looking like an idiot in front of attractive men, so it was no big deal.
Okay, back to work... home tomorrow: work during the day, advanced vinyasa at night! When it's difficult, I just remind myself: it's not 108 degrees in here!
Posted by april at July 1, 2009 6:05 PM
Comments
Do they actually give you a measured out portion of pasta? I would think they just plop some on there, and what they give you might be more than what the calorie counts say, right?
Posted by: Bob at July 1, 2009 7:59 PM
Not a huge Olive Garden fan myself, however I must agree it sounds like a great way to watch your calorie intake while traveling and still getting a satisfying meal.
Posted by: Greg at July 3, 2009 10:01 AM
Bob, most chain restaurants weigh everything very carefully as a way of keeping tight rein on their costs.
I made the Olive Garden recipe, Venetian Chicken. It was good and quite healthy, although next time, I wouldn't bother with the tomatoes. They just didn't go with the rest of the items at all. I didn't use apricot preserves, either; I substituted chopped dried apricots and just a little maple syrup and it made a delicious sauce for the chicken breast. JD
Posted by: Judith at July 6, 2009 9:37 PM
Hi April,
First off, I just wanted to say hello and how much I have enjoyed reading your blog. I discovered it a few days ago and am hooked! I am quite new to CR and LOVE how energetic and alive I feel.
I haven't been to the Olive Garden in ages, but was pleased to see some healthier options at Chili's when I went there today with my dad. Not being a huge fan of chain restaurants, I was thrilled to see a cedar plank tilapia on the menu. It was surprisingly delicious-- and (sad to admit this), being a broccoli virgin (seriously, I've never had it in my entire 27 years), devoured the nice side of steamed broccoli. Woo hoo to expanding my veggie repertoire!
And nice to meet you!
Amanda
Posted by: Amanda at July 22, 2009 8:34 PM
Hi April,
I love your blog! I started a mild "tropical" version of CR (I live in Singapore) a few months ago and I already feel fantastic.
I wanted to ask if you could comment more on Bikram Yoga. I've been practicing regularly for about a year now. Do you think it goes well with CR? It is too extreme, the heat and the number of calories one burns during the class (about 700 for someone like me)? That's half my calories consumed per day!
Thanks!
Emma
Posted by: Emma at October 4, 2009 5:26 AM