Dining Out With Your Personal Trainer

July 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Installment #9 Chili’s

So Chili’s doesn’t have the best low calorie meals on the block, but if you are a faithful customer of the restaurant here are some options.

Option 1

Try Chili’s Guiltless Grill Salmon if you’re in the mood for seafood. With this entree, you get an 8 oz. salmon fillet that is lightly seasoned and seared. The salmon comes with black beans and seasonal vegetables topped with parmesan cheese.

Caloric Value – 480 calories

Option 2

Order the Guiltless Black Bean Burger when you crave a burger from Chili’s. This is a vegetarian black bean patty topped with low-fat ranch dressing, tomato, pickle, lettuce and onion. The Guiltless Black Bean Burger comes with a side of seasonal veggies topped with parmesan cheese.

Caloric Value – 650 calories

Option 3

Choose the Guiltless Chicken Platter at Chili’s if you feel like chicken. This entree is a grilled chicken breast served with sweet corn on the cob, rice and steamed vegetables topped with parmesan cheese.

Caloric Value – 580 calories

Dining Out With Your Personal Trainer

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Installment #6: Alcohol

Not that I am promoting the consumption of alcoholic drinks, but for many they impact a night out on the town, often times unaccounted for. Alcohol can significantly increase your caloric intake in one shot or just a few sips. They are typically just as high in calories as sugar-laden sodas. This guide will help you understand the approximate caloric content of selected alcoholic drinks.
200 Calories or Less
• beer (12 oz.)
• rum (2 oz.) and Coke (5 oz.)
• Tom Collins (1.5 oz. gin, mix, and 2 oz. club soda)
• hot buttered rum (6 oz.)
• margarita cocktail (3 oz.)
• whiskey sour (2 oz. mix and 1.5 oz. whiskey)
150 Calories or Less
• martini (2 oz. gin and .5 oz. vermouth)
• bloody Mary (6 oz.)
• brandy (2 oz.)
• most light beers (e.g., Bud Light (12 oz.)
• daiquiri cocktail (2 oz.)
100 Calories or Less
• red wine (4 oz.)
• white wine (4 oz.)
• sangria (4 oz.)
• champagne (4 oz.)
• gin (1.5 oz.)
• rum (1.5 oz.)
• vodka (1.5 oz.)
• whisky (1.5 oz.)

Dining Out With Your Personal Trainer

April 28, 2010 By 1 Comment

Installment #5: Starbucks (Kristen please don’t come after me in my sleep)

Starbucks is one of the biggest coffee franchises in America today. They have their share of tasty drinks, but most come not only with a hefty price tag, but are also calorie laden. Don’t drink your calories! Research shows that our bodies do not register calories from fluids, meaning that the amount of calories your drink contains has no effect on your satiety level. Starbucks is smart though, and will adapt to your healthy lifestyle by making their beverages in low-fat versions, just ask!

Best Beverage
Café Misto with Skim milk (grande)

Caloric Value: 70 calories, 0g fat

Choosing low-fat or skim milk and no cream will instantly cut your calories in half. Whole milk and skim milk have the same amount of protein, yet 1 cup of whole milk contains 160 calories and 5g of fat versus skim milk which contains 80 calories and 0g fat.

Worst Beverage
Strawberries & Cream Frappucino (grande)

Caloric Value: 570 calories, 15g fat

This drink contains as many calories as a slice of pizza. Instead of ordering regular frappucinos, opt for the light, blended versions, for a savings of over 400 calories.