Applebee's is one of my favorite restaurants. With the tremendous success I have been experiencing I thought I would introduce Applebee's back into my diet. I asked for two chicken breasts, grilled w/cheese. Not bad, huh? Maybe two breasts sounds a little much but I am walking 3.5 miles daily and lifting three days a week. I ate lunch at Applebee's three times in one week.

All of a sudden my weight loss stalled. In fact early last week I gained two pounds. I checked my diet and knew that my carbs were under 20 (I am keeping on induction)....or so I thought. I went back to Applebee's and had a chat with my server. She told me that their chicken breasts are marinated in a lime-sugar brine. SUGAR! GLUCOSE! Oh , No! There was the culprit. Those two grilled chicken breasts were loaded with sugar....and carbs! I have since been back on strict induction and the weight has fallen to where I was before Applebee's plus -2 pounds. Whew! Those clever carbs.

Moral? Ask if your seemingly safe steak or chicken dish has been marinated in anything. It is not safe to assume.

i hardly go out to eat because of these hidden traps. the only things I've had about the 1/week I eat out is nekked chicken wings, with bottled hot sauce so I can see the ingredients (the restaurant I go to has about 25 diff types you can choose from ).

Hi,

Here's a link to a Fast Food database that someone else posted a while ago. http://www.calorieking.com/foods/ca...?category_id=21

It's been a big help to me when I'm thinking of eating out or just want to grab something on the run. I've discovered that most fast food restaurants just aren't worth it.

judy

Thats the reason I started making my own lunch. You never know what is in the food you are eating while eating out. Good catch on your part though finding out the culprit

I take my lunch every day, that way I know what I'm having is lc safe. I wish I had more time to try all these lc recipes. There are some great ones. Thanks for the info.

I only eat out when I have to also for those reasons. Also, I find that I often get some sort of tummy trouble when I eat out...I'm starting to think this down economy is having an effect of the food quality in restaurants !

I get good results from buffet type restaurants - especially one called Golden Corral (Golden Trough my daughter calls it). There’s always a wide selection of low-carb entries and sides and I can even get strawberries, sugar-free Jello and the filling from sugar free blueberry pie for dessert.

I’ve also started e-mailing my former favorite high carb restaurants on a regular basis, suggesting low carb additions to their menus (not only for us LC’s but for diabetics as well). They usually reply nicely that they will pass the message on to their R&D department. Maybe if all of us here on the forum emailed Applebee’s, Olive Garden, etc. about or WOE they’d take action faster. Worth a shot!

Blondie, great idea! I'm in. People usually don't understand the power of group e-mails and how much they really do work. If you do a sample e mail and post it along with web site e mail addresses I bet you would get a lot of results.


Long Way 2 go,
Thanks for the info. I have an applebee's right around the corner!

FYI - Sugar free pie filling is still thickened with starch and therefore not carb free. Ask the restaurant what they use to thicken it with. Hidden carbs are everywhere...

Well that explains it! We have an Appleby's near us and have gotten takeout from there a few times since starting LCing. Seems like we stall afterwards. We will definitely pass over the chicken!

I am in Canada and we don't have Applebees but since you mentioned that, whenever I eat out I will be sure to ask the server about any sugar in the marinading. Thanks for the heads up.

Before I eat anything prepared by someone other than myself, I ask how it is prepared. I think that is just a great rule. Good luck to you.... Realize that you are on the road to a more healthy you and one minor pothole won't stop that from happening.....

The last time I ate at Applebys (several months ago) I ordered a steak and a salad. The waiter ask if I was on a diet. I proudly said yes, Atkins. He said "I don't know why you people bother to eat out." My DH was as shocked as I was. I decided to make my own food and take my lunch every day.

Did he get a big tip?
LOL
Lynn

Thanks for the tip about Applebee's. Who would have thought that they would use a marinade and then when you ask for something specific, they didn't tell you up front. Thanks again