HELP! Need some suggestions for some items to choose from at these two restaurants. I received gift cards to both and guess I should just stick to the salad at Olive Garden and no breadsticks but what else?

Ruby Tuesday's, a steak and some mashed califlower or a salad???

I did mess up the phase 1 because of the sweets this holiday season but will take it seriously and get back on track in a more strict way after Christmas.

Please any suggestions from you would be super!!!

You can always regift them!

I think if you look at the menus there is always something that you can eat with SB.
I'd save these until you are on Phase 2 and then it won't be very hard. And if you treat them like a special occasion then you can have one higher calorie day and it won't be the end of the world.

I'm looking at Olive Garden's and if you like Mussels than you can eat those for an appetizer. The stuffed mushroom caps if you're not too sensitive to carbs (they have breadcrumbs). The salad (of course). The tomato based soups if you eat around the pasta. The Chianti Braised short ribs for dinner..Any of the steaks and just substitute the potatoes for more veg...

You have options. Just know that you're going to be surrounded by temptation at every turn.

if you do have the olive garden salad, ask for it sans croutons and the dressing on the side. Use the dressing sparingly at the table.

Ruby Tuesday I do the salad bar and Olive garden I do whole wheat pasta with marinara on the side

If you Google Ruby Tuesday's restaurant menu, you'll see several healthy selections you can choose from, plus they have a fresh salad bar, too.
The Olive Garden most likely has their menu listed on their website, too, where you can check it out and decide what to order before you go. Usually, if you already know what you're going to order, you'll be less likely to give in to temptations.