Healthy Restaurant Eating: Chain Menu Nutrition Tips

Eating healthy at Chinese or Mexican restaurants requires understanding nutritional values and sodium content. Compare the best and worst chain restaurant meals to find vegetarian options or low-calorie swaps that fit your diet.

plate of tacos

Nutrition Facts for Chiquito's

As the weather outside cools down, many people turn to Mexican food to turn the heat up. With over 70 locations worldwide, Chiquito restaurants are a United Kingdom–based chain specializing in northern Mexican food. The nutritional information of the claimed "Original Mexican Grill & Bar"

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Chicken with couscous

Nutritional Value of a Breaded Chicken Cutlet

A breaded chicken cutlet is a versatile chicken preparation, lending itself to a simple breaded chicken sandwich or more complicated dishes such as chicken parmesan. Regardless of how you choose to serve this chicken, it provides a range of nutritional value, including macronutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

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Potato noodles

Nutritional Value of Fried Vegetables

Cooking almost always has some impact on the nutritional value of foods. Frying enhances the natural taste, color, texture and shelf life of vegetables. It cooks food quickly, leaving less time for loss of nutrients. Frying can add lots of calories to your meals, however.

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Fresh Homemade Margarita with Lime

Nutritional Value of a Margarita at Mexican Restaurant

Margaritas are a popular treat at Mexican restaurants. Despite their popularity, margaritas are among the most calorie-dense beverages you can drink. These cocktails often come super-sized, adding up to a day’s worth of calories, sodium and sugar in just one drink.

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bunch of green and white asparagus

Nutritional Value of White Asparagus Vs. Green

If you’re used to asparagus being green, the white variety may look downright creepy. Its broad, firm stalks are the pale color of fresh cream because they lack the green pigments of conventional asparagus. However, the white veggie can be just as nutritious, although its health properties do vary slightly.

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Fried Salmon

Nutritional Value of Pan-Fried Salmon

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's dietary guidelines recommend Americans eat 8 ounces of seafood a week. People who include more seafood in their diets have lower rates of heart disease. Salmon makes a healthy and delicious choice, and pan frying is an easy way to prepare it.

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Delicious Battered Fried Pickles

Nutrition Facts for Deep-Fried Pickles

Pickles are a condiment or snack that combines the cucumber with salt, vinegar and spices. People have been eating pickles since ancient Egyptian times. Pickles themselves make a low-calorie addition to your diet, although they are high in sodium, but frying them significantly increases their calorie and fat content.

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Nutrition in Hot & Sour Soup From a Chinese Food Restaurant

It is important to choose all of your other courses with just as much care as the entree if you are watching your diet. Hot and sour soup may be a better choice for starting your meal of Chinese food than options such as Chinese chicken salad or fried appetizers, such as egg rolls or fried shrimp.

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Nutritional Content of White vs. Crimini Mushrooms

White mushrooms are a common variety of mushrooms also known as button mushrooms. White mushrooms have a firm texture and a mild flavor. Crimini or cremini mushrooms are in the same family as white mushrooms, but they have some differences.

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Yellow green pepper on wood

The Nutrition Profile for a Yellow Bell Pepper

All sweet bell peppers start as green peppers, which are both edible and nutritious at this stage. Depending on the variety, green peppers left on the vine ripen into yellow, red, orange, purple or even brown bell peppers.

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Fried Tofu

Nutritional Information for Deep Fried Tofu

The Chinese have been eating tofu since 200 B.C. Tofu, also known as bean curd, is cheese-like product made from curdling soy milk. It is a high-quality plant-based protein that takes on the flavor of the food it is mixed with.

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Barbecued ribs with french fries

Nutrition in Chinese Boneless Spareribs

Boneless spare ribs are a staple of many Chinese restaurants, as the ribs provide a rich, meaty flavor and are packed with protein. While boneless spare ribs can be an enjoyable treat, they aren't ideal for your overall health, as they tend to be high in calories and fat as well.

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mexican chili con carne in black plate

Wendy's Chili Ingredients

Fast food gives you a convenient option for meals, but many of the menu options at a fast food restaurant don't fit into an eating plan that restricts calories or carbohydrates. A small serving of Wendy's chili contains 17 g of protein and 6 g of fiber in each yellow cup.

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Nutrition Facts for White Tortilla Wraps

Most white tortilla wraps contain high amounts of carbs and provide little or no dietary fiber. Many contain little or no fat, however, and most contain no cholesterol. While white tortilla wraps provide small amounts of some nutrients, whole grain wraps provide a healthier alternative.

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Fried Noodles

Nutrition in Chow Mein

Chow mein is popular at Chinese sit-down and take-out restaurants; you may be wondering how well it fits into your diet plan. Chow mein typically includes noodles stir-fried with vegetables, a source of protein and sauce for flavor.

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Grilled chicken breast

A Nutritional Comparison of Lamb & Chicken

Like all meats, lamb and chicken are rich in protein. While the two foods share this characteristic, other nutritional aspects of lamb and chicken differ. Lamb and chicken can both be components of a healthy diet, but you may find that one is better suited to your nutritional needs than the other.

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Chef is making an appetizer

Eating in Vs. Eating Out

When trying to decide whether to eat out or stay in and cook, consider the potential health advantages and disadvantages of each. Eating out, while typically less nutritious than eating in, doesn't have to be truly unhealthy. You can also prevent dietary boredom and increase the health benefits of eating in.

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Hot and spicy chicken

What Is in KFC Cole Slaw?

Among fast food connoisseurs, KFC cole slaw occupies an honored spot. It is considered by some to be the finest offering on the KFC menu, and copycat recipes abound. KFC publishes ingredients and nutritional information about all of its products, including cole slaw.

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Many Ripe Red Tomatoes

10 Healthiest Red Foods

As a rule, the brighter the color of a food, the more concentrated its nutrition. The bright hue of red foods signals lots of nutrition in every bite. Red fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins and minerals, which help turn carbohydrates, fats and proteins into usable energy for the body.

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