Currently working on a list of SBD friendly menus at restaurants. I travel quite a bit during the summer, but I don't remember popular chains or restaurants anywhere but the places I eat every day. So ladies, I ask for your help....I want to know your favorite restaurants to eat at. Not just SBD friendly ones, but your favorites and we'll try to squeeze out a good menu out of each of them. If you have a favorite local restaurant that has a website, we can work with that too.

(Note: It is ALWAYS better to make your food at home rahther than eat out. You will know exactly what ingredients are in the food and won't let anything sneak up and ruin your weight loss. However, there are those out there like me, constantly on the road, the run, and in the office. It'd be nice to have a guide to eating out for the moments of need.)

I'll admit one bad one that there is no redeeming qualities
I'm from California and California has awesome mexican food but it is also not so good for you There are these small mexican taco shops so to speak, but basically you can get tacos, burritos, tortas, etc etc for CHEAP. Whenever I go to visit my family, I always make at least one stop at one of my favorite places. I talked to my friend in California the other day and she said to me "so are you not going to go there when you visit?" and my answer was "**** yes I'm going". Basically I'm glad the mexican food in colorado pretty much sucks So it is my treat to myself when I visit California.

Ok as for places that actually have healthy or quasi healthy food:

Mimi's Cafe - has tons of salads on the menu, also has entrees that have fish/chicken/etc with veggies. Probably have to be careful how the items are prepared and also be careful with the dressings for the salads, but it is a decent restaurant and one of my favorite relaxful restaurants. Also have to avoid the muffins/bread.

Red Robin - One of my favorite restaurants but also mostly because of their burgers. They do have some more healthy items on the menu though like salads and a grilled chicken plate. I'm not a big fan of fries but their fries are pretty good but they come with the burger so if you avoid the burger, then you are good

Chili's - They have a few things on the menu. What I have gotten in the past is "baby back ribs, no bbq sauce with a double order of grilled veggies instead of fries/apple thing" (that was before SBD)

Claim Jumper - now this restaurant is bad and good. They have lots of salads on the menu and a pretty good salad bar. Bad - Their portions are HUGE. Before dieting, I always had a doggie bag. They do have a lot of good items on the menu and some oh so bad ones.

Soup Plantation/Soup Exchange/Sweet Tomatoes - Salad/Soup places, make your own salad, what could be better? They also have sourdough bread at Soup Plantation/Sweet Tomatoes (same chain different name).

Mongolian BBQ type places - make your own bowl of veggies/meat and spices and have them cook it in front of you.

Korean BBQ places - Raw Veggies/Meat put out for you to cook at your own table

That is all that I can think of at the moment.

Well, the places that I can find OP meals that are regulars for DH and me are:

Outback Steakhouse - I usually get the 9 oz sirloin there with veggies, a sweet potato (minus the brown sugar), and soup or salad.

Bennigan's - they have a good cajun grilled salmon dish that I usually get. Comes with a salad, side (veggies), crab cakes...small cheat, but worth it! My BIL's girlfriend also gets their boca burgers there. DH likes their Monte Cristo sandwich...basically it's a club sandwich dipped in batter and fried!

Damon's - usually go for the sirloin there, too, though they do have some good grilled chicken dishes.

Red Lobster - I love seafood! Broiled anything goes there!

Cracker Barrell - They just adopted a new low-carb menu, so there are lots of options now. I really like their spicy grilled catfish, and I'll usually get it with green beans, salad, and toasted sourdough.

Chili's - The citrus fire chicken and shrimp is a good bet at Chili's. Sometimes if I want to splurge I'll get the fajita version of this dish.

O'Charley's - Has a low-carb menu and good food. It's been a while since we've been there, but I did enjoy it.

Panera Bread - Excellent salads and soups! It doesn't all have to be about bread there.

Subway - some of their wraps are good, salads also available there

Texas Roadhouse - Probably the best roast chicken I've EVER had--though I'm not sure what they use in their spice rub. There may be some naughty stuff in it. I did try to find it online, but no luck. Also very good steak there.

From TGI Fridays I like the Key West Grouper off of the Atkins approved menu. It is "a seasoned, mild white-fish fillet pan-roasted with a sparkling citrus splash and fresh roasted vegetables". I asked them and there is no oil or butter used.

At Applebees I like the Sizzling Chicken Skillet from the Weight Watcher's menu. "Succulent strips of grilled, marinated chicken breast are served in a sizzling skillet with steamed peppers, squash, mushrooms and onions. Served with pico de gallo, roasted tomato salsa, salsa ranch dressing, shredded lettuce and warm wheat tortillas" 360 calories 4 grams of fat 10 grams of fiber.

At Chipotle, I like the burrito bowl. I get either the vegetarian one with guacamole or the chicken one. Either way I get black beans, salsa, tomatoes, sometimes onion and peppers, a little cheese and lettuce. I skip the sour cream and add on some ff sour cream at home. I also skip the rice.

Ok, this is me super jealous because you all have PHENOMENAL restaurants near by: !

I live in the North End of Boston, surrounded by Pizzeria Reginas, pasta, homemade cheese shops, and worst of all, the best cannolis you could ever imagine. We have fabulous restaurants, but to get anything SBD friendly, it is a hassel. I think everything is cooked in butter, and slathered in cream. I can get some ok salads, and whole wheat pizza (without which I would die, thank you Lord for Ernesto's).

We have no mexican food, no steak houses (well one, but I cant afford it!), just lots and lots of pasta. And Legal Seafoods, also way above my price range, yet so so tasty!

So alas, I have nothing to contribute except to say that I really really really want you all to enjoy your good fortune!

I'm jealous, too, as I live in a small town with NOTHING! We have Applebees, and that's IT! We have fast food and a steakhouse but none of the others: Chipotle, Chilis, etc. The closest are 50 mins. away!!!

I guess it does keep us from eating out very often.

Lauren

Oh, I wasn't talking within any distance! I live in...what do they call it...? Oh! The boonies, the sticks, the middle of nowhere and loving it. I live out in the country in a mile long town with houses on one side of the street and fields on the other. Makes for great night walks!

Anyway, we have to drive anywhere between 20-60 minutes to get to civilization. Don't feel bad! I work in civilization...sort of...so that's where I'm coming from.

Lonestar steakhouse is a good one. Ruby Tuesdays has some good salads.

I actually ate at the Olive Garden yesterday and didn't cheat!!! I had the best chicken ceasar salad ever. It's like they sliced the chicken right off the bone. Panera Bread also has great ceasar salad and the best brocolli cheddar soup. I really surprised at the low carb options everywhere. It makes it so much easier to eat out.

Well, if you are ever in Delta, there's one choice - the Long Horn Saloon and Eatery. So far the only SBD friendly thing is the house salad with dressing from the dried tomato and balsamic vinegar dressing. The chef does a couple of wraps too but they are huge. He used the largest tortilla and I always have to bring half home. They are not whole wheat either.

I love me some Ruby Tuesday's! Best salad bar EVER! Also, they have a low carb menu. I enjoy (on Ph2) their low carb quesadilla made with whole wheat tortilla. It comes with chicken and cheese, and you have sides of salsa and sour cream to dip it into. One order is 2 servings....I usually split it with my friend Molly, who is all about eating healthily.