This is absolutely true for the vast, vast majority of restaurants out there. One major reason why I just don't trust them unless I see the food itself being prepared.
If they can't really make something 370 calories then they shouldn't advertize it as such. Really I mean I go there and get the WW's meals so I feel better about my choices. I mean some variation may happen, but from 370 to 470 that is a big difference IMO. Now if it were from 370 to 400 I'd say yeah okay makes sense. But two-three times the amount of fat advertized?
Wow! That's crazy. And, considering that the portions are so small, they really pack a lot of fat and calories into small servings. They should be held accountable and be made to correct their nutritional info. That's false advertising.
I'm going to Applebee's tomorrow with some friends and thinking about getting the veggie pizza, does anyone know the calorie count for that? I have had it before and its great.
Applebee's is 130 miles away so looking forward to going.
We live in a rural area and I've found that Chili's is easier to adapt to my eating plan than Applebee's. Chili's will even custom make a salad for you, if you ask for it. I think a lot of Applebee's food is already seasoned, breaded, marinated, etc. when they get it- they thaw and prepare and, are unable to prepare super low cal because of this. At least, that's what I've heard.
It's not LYING...if the recipe is made to the exact specifications...then the meal IS the calories/fat as listed.
The problem is, you don't have a woman on a diet back there preparing the meal.
Look at it this way-if you have two people, side by side, making the same thing without measuring it exactly-and you send the food in, they are going to have different calorie/fat counts. If you and your boyfriend or husband both go up to the counter and make a taco...the nutrition facts are going to be different, even with using the same ingredients. One of you will have used slightly more/less cheese than the other, more/less beef, etc. etc. etc.
Just because this particular study might have a 370 calorie meal as really 470...that doesn't mean that EVERY entree at every Applebee's is going to be 100 calories over. You have to take into account the individual preparing the dish...which is going to be different with every plate, at every entree.
No matter what...you are still doing well eating dinner at any restaurant when it comes in under 600 calories. Seriously. Some of the other meals are easily 900, 1000, 1400 per plate...
I, too, have a love affair with Applebee's.. My usual is the Oriental Chicken Rollup (comes with fries) - which I've found is 709 calories and 25 g of fat for the sandwich alone. Last time I was there a few months ago, I had their WW Garlic and Butter Chicken w/ Broccoli - it's supposed to come with a small red potato, but they forgot the potato! So I just didn't have it
I agree with the Chili's comment - I feel like they have a lot of good options, too. A few weeks ago I had their Guiltless Grilled Chicken. It was DELICIOUS! It came on a bed of vegetable rice and a side of broccoli. All of that for only 371 calories and 2 g of fat!
I didn't go to the website yet but have to agree with "Aphil". I worked in several resturants in my life and different cooks do things different ways. Even if the recipe says one thing they may prepare it different {and say a little butter or sour cream because they think it would taste good}, then you have the person that plates it up they don't measure they eye it up They put a little extra salad dressing ect ect YOU GET THE IDEA its a crap shoot when you eat prepared foods out. You have to order pretty plain and simple to be SOMEWHAT secure in calories.
Some restaurants are giving calorie counts per serving not per plate. Like the pizza mentioned before me. The guiltless menu is only promising less than 750 calories and you may be getting 2 servings.
The problem is, you don't have a woman on a diet back there preparing the meal.
I think that is very true. However, if a dish is specifically marketed to dieters / health-conscious eaters, they should be expected to conform more carefully.
Watch out for Applebees...
