Restaurant Salads. You’re out having dinner and order one as a starter to the meal. Maybe you even opt for a great big entree salad as your meal. Before you pick your next salad off the menu, checkout which options to eliminate.
Restaurant Salads are TRICKY! Salads that seem healthy are loaded with fat and calories. Salads that sound fancy or complicated at a restaurant, are really something simple, easy and inexpensive. Skip all of those unhealthy and expensive salad options at restaurants. Homemade versions are more flavorful, healthier, and less expensive.
Stop Ordering Unhealthy Restaurant Salads
We think of salads as healthy. Why would restaurant salads be any different? They’re different because of the ingredients used. Not every salad is created equal. Here are the ingredients to avoid and what to look for instead.
The first salad to stop ordering is the ones with unhealthy proteins.
1. Proteins on Restaurant Salads
Adding a chicken breast or shrimp to salad makes it a well rounded meal. Add fried chicken or shrimp to the salad and the fat and calories jumps.
Choosing grilled chicken or shrimp instead of fried keeps it more healthy. For example, swapping crispy chicken out of a salad at Applebee’s and getting grilled saves over 200 calories.
Healthy Protein Options for Salads:
- Grilled Shrimp
- Salmon
- Grilled Chicken
- Steak
The second salad to stop ordering are ones with the most popular dressing in the US.
2. Salad Dressing
Choosing salad dressings for a healthy salad is my biggest challenge. I love salad dressing and, like many people, Ranch is my favorite.
Creamy salad dressings like Ranch DESTROY a healthy salad. Ranch, Blue Cheese, Thousand Island and any dressing that says “creamy” instantly adds hundreds of calories to a salad.
Stop ordering creamy dressings and use these tips for a healthier salad.
Healthier Salad Dressing Tips:
- The amount of dressing served with restaurant salads can easily be a ¼ cup. Control the amount of dressing on the salad. Ask for your dressing on the side and not mixed into the salad. Pour on the amount of dressing you need or dip your salad into the dressing.
- Use low fat dressings when available.
- Use olive oil and vinegar – Ask the server for bottles of these so you can control the amount used. Olive oil has 119 calories per tablespoon but is a healthy fat. Vinegar contains zero calories. Go easy on the oil and use more vinegar for some flavor and tartness.
3. Salad Toppings
Stop ordering Salad toppings. Salads with these items are going to be higher in calories and fat.
- Croutons and Breads – They add carbs and calories.
- Nuts and Seeds – They offer some nutrition but also fat and calories.
- Cheese – A couple ounces of cheese on a salad adds a couple hundred calories.
- Bacon – I know, bacon is good on EVERYTHING, but leave it off your healthy salad.
Stop Ordering Overpriced Restaurant Salads
There are salads listed on menus that are 10.00 in a restaurant and are only a few ingredients. I am always amazed at how much these simple salads sell for in a restaurant. Stop ordering these three salads and make your own at home.
4. The Caprese Salad
Caprese Salad is an Italian Salad made from tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella. The salad is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Finally, it’s seasoned with salt and pepper. It’s as simple as that.
I’ve ordered it out before and gotten under ripe tomatoes, a few slices of cheese, and wilted basil. What’s worse is that I’ve seen on menus for as much as $10.00.
Here’s how to make your own version better and cheaper.
Make a Caprese Salad at Home.
- Slice some ripe Tomato.
- Slice some fresh Mozzarella Cheese.
- Arrange the tomato and cheese on a plate by alternating slices of each ingredient.
- Tear some Fresh Basil Leaves and place on top.
- Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Drizzle with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.
If you’re looking for a twist to the traditional recipe, try Caprese Salad Skewers or Grilled Caprese Salad.
5. The Caesar Salad
As a restaurant favorite, Caesar Salad is on most menus. It is a side salad option on or comes with chicken or shrimp that makes it a meal and jumping the cost to around 15.00.
Caesar salad is 4 ingredients. Romaine Lettuce, Croutons, Parmesan Cheese and Caesar Dressing. For a 5th ingredient, add a chicken breast, and you have a full meal.
Make a Caesar Salad at home.
- Cut up some romaine hearts.
- Add Parmesan Cheese or make these Easy Parmesan Cheese Crisps for a special treat.
- Don’t forget the Croutons.
- Toss it all with some good Caesar Dressing.
- Top it with Juicy Grilled Chicken or Roasted Shrimp for some protein and make it an entree.
6. The Wedge Salad
A wedge salad is a wedge of iceberg lettuce, topped with blue cheese dressing, chopped tomatoes, and crumbled bacon. Simple and inexpensive at home and pricey at your favorite restaurant.
Make a wedge salad at home.
- Cut a head of iceberg lettuce in half from top to bottom, through the stem end.
- Take each half and cut it in half again. You now have 4 wedges.
- Cut off the stem portion of each wedge and place on a serving plate.
- Drizzle your favorite blue cheese (or ranch) dressing over the wedge.
- Top with chopped tomatoes and crispy bacon bits.
Other Restaurant Salads to Stop Ordering
There are a few other salads I avoid at restaurants. I avoid them because I enjoy the homemade versions.
In the homemade versions, I control the ingredients used. That means I can choose better ingredients and how much of each ingredient is used. Better tomatoes, better taste. Less mayo, less calories.
7. Mayonnaise Based Salads
I rarely order mayonnaise based salads at restaurants. They usually have minimal ingredients and TONS of mayo in them. I would rather make Tuna salad, Chicken salad and Egg Salad at home. Making these recipes at home lets you change out and control ingredient amounts.
One of my favorite mayo based salads to make at home is this Egg Salad Recipe. The whole recipe of it costs around 1.00.
8. Pasta Salad
Every pasta salad I’ve had in restaurants lacks two things: Flavor and Ingredients.
When I think pasta salad, I think about a salad made with rotini, bow ties, or some other fun pasta shape. It’s loaded with vegetables like peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Add some pepperoni, feta cheese, and olives for even more flavor. Finish the salad off with a garlic and herb dressing.
I hear you and agree with you. My pasta salad thought process sounds much better than the kind at the restaurant. I want more flavor and more ingredients. My wife would add that gluten free is also important which you won’t find at a restaurant.
This Homemade Classic Pasta Salad is a favorite.
Those are the 7 Restaurant Salads to stop ordering at restaurants. For more salad making inspiration check out these other salad recipes.
