[Jenskihere]

I have a dinner with friends next week and they picked Granite City. I looked at their menu online, but I can't find nutritional facts anywhere. I looked at Dotti's Weight Loss Zone, it isn't listed there. I googled it, other people comment on how getting nutritional information from that restaurant is next to impossible. So what do I pick and how do I count it?!? Stressing out already!!

Thanks,
Jenny

[luvmyfam]

I am not familiar with that restaurant, but I feel your pain about how hard it is to find nutrition info on certain places.

I tell you, I haven't eaten at Cracker Barrel ever since I simply couldn't find their info anywhere, and when I emailed, I got this very vague, roundabout reply. All this stuff about reassuring me that they use only the best quality products from reliable, safe sources (well, YEAH. That's part of what makes it so yummy, but good quality doesn't automatically transfer into low cal/fat/points!!

Weight Watchers somehow got ahold of some of their nutrition info, because I think they're one of the places listed in the Dining Out Guide.

Just wanted to commiserate. I have this theory (and if you ever see the Yahoo/Men's Health snippets of "Eat This: Not That," I think I'm right) that the sit down/family places might not be the best choices for "diet" foods. Fast food joints have to be held accountable for everything, but there is no accountability for most sit-down places. I'll lay you odds there are way more calories & fat in a Red Robin (YUM) burger than in a McD's Quarter Pounder or maybe even a Whopper from BK. Yet the fast food places get all the flack.

I looked up Granite City restaurants and saw the menu. Here are the things that stuck out to me as maybes...

My best suggestion is stick to non-deep-fried, no cream sauce/soup, and light on any cheeses. The Grilled Salmon Oscar looks like it might be okay, either MINUS the bearnaise sauce, or having it on the side so you can use a tiny bit. You could divide a filet mignon order and have some boxed up for lunch another day...Just see if they'll hold the "crispy onion strings" for you. Yummy as I'm sure they are, they're deep fried and are not good for you! One of the flatbread pizzas might not be terrible if you stick to the chicken-topped one or a veggie one. Not sure what day you're going, but as for the soup of the day...only Tuesday (turkey & wild rice) and Sunday (chili) look like they could possibly be okay. The rest are creamy. Pastas all seem to have cream in the sauce. In the burgers, there is a buffalo burger with only 4 grams of fat...Not sure how you like buffalo, or if you've had it, but I know it's a leaner one and would be a better choice. The Buffalo Chicken sandwich might be okay, as might be the Monterey Chicken Wrap...provided all the toppings are on the side. On the weekly specials menu the Chilled Sesame Shrimp and Cucumber Salad looks pretty safe, and tasty, too...just not sure if that's THIS week only.

I'd say the more simple the better. The less creamy and deep-fried, the better. If it's simple, with few ingredients, like the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, you should be able to estimate points yourself. And remember that most of the time, the portions at sit-down places are HUGE. They could usually easily cover 2, maybe 3 meals. So if you need to ask them to divide it and box the second half for you, then do it. Ask for steamed veggies of some kind, or a fruit cup (IF they have it) instead of anything deep-fried.

While I have no clue how to figure out points for you, those are the things I'd try to stick to if I were going myself, and were trying to stay OP.

Good Luck!!