When dining at Olive Garden, soup or salad and a shrimp entree are going to be your best bets. Nutrition expert Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, told TODAY Food that while these may be healthier choices than other menu items, we still need to watch the sodium levels and drink enough water to counteract all that salt.
Full Answer
What is the healthiest meal at Olive Garden?
“The Salmon Piccata (570 calories) is a top pick at Olive Garden for nutrition and taste,” says Patricia Bannan, RDN, a nationally recognized nutritionist and healthy cooking expert, explaining that the meal provides 45 grams of protein for staying power, as well as essential omega-3 fatty acids.
What is the best thing to eat at Olive Garden?
- Any Breadstick Sandwich. olivegarden/Instagram.
- Grilled Chicken Piadina. olivegarden/Instagram. …
- Tour of Italy. Sarah Schmalbruch / INSIDER. …
- Cookie Butter Cake. Olive Garden. …
- Zeppoli. olivegarden/Instagram. …
- Shrimp Alfredo. …
- Raviolo di Portobello. …
- Eggplant Parmigiana. …
What are the best dishes at Olive Garden?
What are the best dishes at Olive Garden?
- Any Breadstick Sandwich.
- Grilled Chicken Piadina.
- Tour of Italy.
- Cookie Butter Cake.
- Zeppoli.
- Shrimp Alfredo.
- Raviolo di Portobello.
- Eggplant Parmigiana.
What is the best thing to order at Olive Garden?
What is the healthiest thing to order at Olive Garden?
- Eggplant Parmesan Breadstick Sandwich. A sandwich made with breadsticks is healthier than you think.
- Herb-Grilled Salmon.
- Stuffed Mushrooms Appetizer.
- Fettuccini Alfredo Mini Pasta Bowl.
- Grilled Chicken Parmigiana.
- Gluten-Free Rotini with Marinara Sauce.
- Linguine di Mare.
- Shrimp Scampi.
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What is Olive Garden most known for?
Olive Garden is one of those chain restaurants that will always have a special place in most people's hearts — in large part, because of the breadsticks. The Italian-American chain is known for their unlimited salads, endless pasta offerings and those famously warm, soft breadsticks that make customer feel like family.
How do you eat at Olive Garden on a budget?
One of the best Olive Garden deals is the $6 Take Home Entree. You'll have your pick from Fettuccine Alfredo, Five Cheese Ziti al Forno, and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce for only $6 for you to take home for the next day as long as you purchase an entree in the restaurant.
Does Olive Garden have good lasagna?
This classic dish is everything you'd expect from a lasagna. It tastes like home-cooked comfort food, layered with all the most savory mouth-watering flavors. With filling portions and a high-quality recipe, this lasagna is definitely in my top five favorite dishes at Olive Garden.
What is the highest calorie dish in Olive Garden?
"The worst appetizer option is the Loaded Pasta Chips at 1,410 calories," says McGrane. This appetizer is not only the most caloric, but also has the most fat and sodium as well. Even something as dense as the Lasagna Fritta would be a better option at 1,070 calories, 71 grams of fat, and 1,650 milligrams of sodium.
How much should I bring to Olive Garden?
In the fiscal year 2021, the average check per person at Olive Garden amounted to 21 U.S. dollars.
What do you get for your birthday at Olive Garden?
complimentary dessertIs there a free birthday offer in the restaurant? Olive Garden guests can receive a complimentary dessert on their birthday when they dine with us.
What is the most popular Olive Garden soup?
Zuppa ToscanaZuppa Toscana is Olive Garden's most popular soup. This one-pot, homemade Zuppa Toscana recipe is hearty and loaded with Italian sausage, kale, bacon and potatoes. Some of our most popular recipes are restaurant copycat recipes like Creamy Shrimp Pasta and of course Chicken Madeira!
What kind of meat is in the lasagna at Olive Garden?
**Our meat sauce is made with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage.
How much is a lasagna play at Olive Garden?
Olive Garden Menu PricesFoodPriceFive Cheese Ziti al Forno$12.99Ravioli$12.99Tour of Italy$17.99Lasagna Classico$14.2956 more rows
What is the most fattening food?
11 Foods That May Contribute to Weight GainSoda. Soda is high in calories and added sugar, yet it lacks important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants ( 1 ). ... Sugar-sweetened coffee. ... Pizza. ... Cookies and doughnuts. ... French fries and potato chips. ... Sugary breakfast cereals. ... Chocolate. ... Fruit juice.More items...
What is the most unhealthy food?
List of the Most Unhealthy Foods in the WorldSuper-Sweet Cereals. Breakfast cereals are commonly loaded with sugar. ... Sugary Coffee Drinks. Many people are accustomed to starting their day with high-calorie coffee drinks. ... Canned Soup. ... Margarine Bars. ... High-Calorie Soda. ... Processed Meats. ... Ice Cream. ... Frozen French Fries.
What is one serving of Zuppa Toscana?
Olive GardenNutrition FactsFor a Serving Size of 1 bowl (100g)How many calories are in Zuppa Toscana? Amount of calories in Zuppa Toscana: Calories 220Calories from Fat 135 (61.4%)% Daily Value *How much fat is in Zuppa Toscana? Amount of fat in Zuppa Toscana: Total Fat 15g-16 more rows
What is the Olive Garden food hack?
If you're obsessed with the soup, salad and breadsticks, you need this Olive Garden secret menu hack. Customize your soup by asking for half a serving of potato soup and half a serving of made-from-scratch minestrone in the same cup (or bowl!). It really hits the spot.
Do Olive Garden entrees come with salad?
No, but they do come with an entree. If you get salad as your meal it's about 6–7$ and is unlimited. If you get an appetizer as your meal it's typically around 2–4$ to add it on (depending on your location).
Does Olive Garden use real chicken?
"All across the board, they changed their chicken about six years ago from good chicken to chicken that's not so great," Newsweek reported the former employee said. "It's not 100 percent chicken, and the chicken that comes on the never-ending pasta bowl is actually canned chicken.
Does the kids meal come with breadsticks at Olive Garden?
Natasha K, 32, uploaded her video with the caption: "Save money, eat more!" "If you are ordering to-go, get the kids meal. Look at these portion sizes, they are enormous," she said in her 15-second clip. "A side of broccoli, our main entrée, two breadsticks and a drink – all for only $5.99."
What is the least caloric meal?
Surprisingly, the least caloric and most low-in-fat option is the spaghetti with meat sauce. "It also has the least amount of sodium of the lunch options, with 530 milligrams," says McGrane. Grab a fork and get to twirling! RELATED: These are the easy, at-home recipes that help you lose weight.
Is Olive Garden pasta healthy?
Known for its many pasta dishes , Olive Garden offers both health-conscious and over-the-top meals. We know the breadsticks at Olive Garden are likely what keeps customers coming back for more, however, they do offer plenty of other choices (a whole menu's worth) and it's time to sort the unhealthiest from the moderately healthy ones.
Is Olive Garden meatball pizza?
Only Olive Garden would find a way to marry meatballs and pizza into one giant dish. "Meatball Pizza Bowl is one of the highest calorie options. It's also the second-highest in total fat with 56 grams and 29 grams of saturated fat," says McGrane.
Is Zuppa Toscana healthy?
"It's a close call between the Chicken and Gnocchi soup and the Zuppa Toscana, however, with more than half your daily sodium needs and nearly twice as much saturated fat that's recommended per serving, the Chicken and Gnocchi soup is the least healthy, " say McGrane.
What is olive garden marinara?
Simply described as a baked blend of Italian cheese, pasta, and their signature five-cheese marinara (which is different from their standard marinara), Olive Garden's version is about as traditional as you'll find in any chain restaurant.
What is the signature cocktail at Olive Garden?
But at Olive Garden, a place that does not exactly do things traditionally, the signature cocktail is an Italian Margarita. While the traditional version combines lime, triple sec, and tequila, the Olive Garden version sees the addition of a shot of Amaretto (an almond-flavored Italian liqueur) on the side.
What sauce is used in lasagna classico?
Then, cradled in the middle, you'll find a heaping portion of fettuccine that was, once again, just topped with their signature Alfredo sauce as opposed to it being mixed thoroughly. Then on the right, the lasagna classico looked like an absolute mess — a far cry from the countless photos used on menus and in commercials. It was layered with pasta, parmesan, mozzarella, and pecorino romano cheeses, and uses the chain's homemade meat sauce.
What is tiramisu at Olive Garden?
The tiramisu is one of the few dishes on the Olive Garden menu with actual roots in Italy. The classic, no-bake, coffee-flavored dessert is served cold. Its coffee and liquor-soaked ladyfingers or sponge cake are layered with a mixture of whipped mascarpone cheese, sugar, and eggs that are then topped off with a dusting of powdered chocolate. It's rich yet light, and offers just the right amounts of sweetness with a dash of bitterness to cap off a meal. The subtle jolt of caffeine also provides the added bonus of helping you thoroughly avoid a food coma.
Is Olive Garden breadsticks good?
We would have been wholly satisfied if our meal started and ended with Olive Garden's golden brown breadsticks. Sorry, not sorry. The restaurant's breadsticks are a cathartic experience, and the true star of the OG show. Freshly-baked every 15 minutes, breadsticks are complimentary with every meal. Perfectly salted, they are served warm and feature a garlicky, buttery exterior, offering just the right amount of crunch, which opens to a wonderfully pillow-like inside where all your carb-y dreams come true.
Does Olive Garden have soup?
While you might be tempted to go straight from the free salad to the entrées, Olive Garden actually has a rather impressive selection of homemade soups. There's zuppa toscana, minestrone, pasta e fagioli, and the fan favorite chicken and gnocchi.
Is Olive Garden a good dessert?
Color us impressed that Olive Garden actually serves a very good version of the Italian dessert. With a non-alcoholic spin to make it a family-friendly option, it's layered with custard and espresso-soaked ladyfingers as opposed to the rum in the traditional preparation. On our visit, we found it to be incredibly delicate and flavorful. We missed the slight bitterness that the alcohol provided in soaking the ladyfingers, but the espresso mimicked it quite nicely. Bravo, Olive Garden!
What is the fun thing about Olive Garden?
One of the fun things about going to Olive Garden is ordering apps for the table. If you're trying to make healthier choices, that doesn't mean you need to skip out on this fun part of your meal.
Is olive garden good for you?
When dining at Olive Garden, soup or salad and a shrimp entree are going to be your best bets. Nutrition expert Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, told TODAY Food that while these may be healthier choices than other menu items, we still need to watch the sodium levels and drink enough water to counteract all that salt.
How many carbs are in olive garden soup?
Add extra protein to your soup. While all of Olive Garden’s soups offer 13 grams of net carbs per serving, they don’t have much protein or fat. Ask for a side of grilled chicken or steak to make your soup a more complete, filling meal — with no extra carbs.
What to order instead of pasta?
If you’re craving pasta, try ordering your favorite noodle dish with broccoli or another veggie instead of the pasta.
Is Olive Garden soup keto friendly?
It’s the most keto-friendly soup that Olive Garden offers because it contains more fat and calories than the Minestrone and Pasta Fagioli, despite having the same number of net carbs. Thus, it’s a more substantial meal.
Is Italian dressing low in carbs?
The restaurant’s Signature Italian Dressing is low in carbs as well.
Is Olive Garden a keto diet?
However, it’s surprisingly easy to follow the low carb, high fat keto diet at Olive Garden.
What is Olive Garden known for?
Olive Garden is known for its breadsticks and pastas. Olive Garden is a casual-dining chain that specializes in Italian-American dishes. The restaurant is known for its warm breadsticks, decadent pasta dishes, and large portions. To find out which menu options are a slam dunk and which customers should avoid, Insider spoke to people who've worked ...
What pasta is in Olive Garden?
Olive Garden's shrimp Alfredo pasta. If you take advantage of Olive Garden's " Create Your Own Pasta " deal, you can craft a custom pasta dish that may save you money over ordering from the main menu. "One of the worst values on the menu is the shrimp Alfredo.
What is Olive Garden's chicken marsala made of?
Olive Garden's chicken marsala is made by pan-frying chicken cutlets and serving them in a marsala wine sauce with mushrooms and herbs.
Who recommends the lasagna fritta appetizer?
Michaela Spain , writer of The Daily Mick and former Olive Garden server, told Insider that she highly recommends ordering the lasagna fritta appetizer. "This is the best appetizer and a favorite of guests," Spain said. "The portion size is perfect for sharing with family, but it doesn't leave you too full for the next courses.".
Can you order carbonara with shrimp?
You can also order a carbonara with shrimp. Kelsey Battle, a college student and server at Olive Garden, told Insider that he loves the chicken carbonara for its great seasoning and flavor. "This dish is rich and delicious. The sauce is cooked and seasoned, and then the whole thing is tossed over a fire," Battle said.
Does Olive Garden have tours of Italy?
If you have a large appetite, Olive Garden's Tour of Italy menu option will give you plenty of food without emptying your wallet.
Does Olive Garden have frozen salmon?
Spain told Insider that customers should reconsider ordering the herb-salmon entrée, which she said is made with frozen fish. "There's a reason Olive Garden is better known for their pasta than their seafood," she said. "The salmon comes in frozen and, in my opinion, this dish is only on the menu to add some diversity.".
How many calories are in olive garden cheese?
1,220 calories, 71 g fat (36 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 2,160 mg sodium, 103 g carbs, (6 g fiber, 19 g sugar), 45 g protein. Five cheeses = five more ways trans fat can get into your meal. Somehow Olive Garden keeps it to 1 gram. That's still one more than you should have in your food! If you're looking to indulge in the oozy goodness ...
Who is Olivia Tarantino?
Olivia Tarantino is a senior editor of Eat This , Not That!, specializing in nutrition, health, and food product coverage. Read more
Does Olive Garden have carbs?
But unlike traditional Italian food, Olive Garden upends the nutritive properties of these ingredients by loading you up with high calories dishes that are giving you extra-large servings of carbs, sodium, and trans fats.
Is Olive Garden a cheat meal?
Cheat meals at Olive Garden don't even feel like cheat meals because Olive Garden doesn't really feel (or taste) like your typical fast-food restaurant. We know you're probably justifying dinner here instead of McDonald's because it's Italian food, and Italian is supposed to be good for you!
Is Olive Garden pasta good for kidney stones?
In fact, those who eat a high-protein diet have a higher risk of developing kidney stones.
Appetizers
Soups and Salads
- "It's a close call between the Chicken and Gnocchi soup and the Zuppa Toscana, however, with more than half your daily sodium needs and nearly twice as much saturated fat that's recommended per serving, the Chicken and Gnocchi soup is the least healthy," say McGrane. "While a salad without dressing is the healthiest option, most of us want dressing on a salad. Ins…
Lunch Item
- Only Olive Garden would find a way to marry meatballs and pizza into one giant dish. "Meatball Pizza Bowl is one of the highest calorie options. It's also the second-highest in total fat with 56 grams and 29 grams of saturated fat," says McGrane. Even more worrisome about this meal is its sodium content—it exceeds the recommended daily allowanceof ...
Tastes of The Mediterranean and Classic Recipes
- "The Tour of Italy is by far the least healthy option on the dinner menu as it's the highest in calories, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar," says McGrane. "By polishing off this dish, you'll be consuming 1,000 milligrams more than the recommended daily limit of sodium, nearly all your calories for the day, and more than twice the recommended limit of saturated fat." Is this re…
Sides
- "The garlic parmesan fries are the least healthy option with 260 calories, 13 grams of fat, 400 mg of sodium, and less than 1 gram of fiber," says McGrane. To be fair, there are only four sides: garlic parmesan fries, garlic mashed potatoes, parmesan-crusted zucchini, and steamed broccoli. So, out of all of these, the fries are the least healthy. "The steamed broccoli is the healthiest sid…
Desserts
- "The Chocolate Brownie Lasagna contains more sugar than 9 glazed donuts," says McGrane. "With a whopping 103 grams of sugar, 144 grams of carbs, 27 grams of saturated fat, and 910 calories, it's one of the least healthy options on the entire menu." Dessert isn't supposed to be twice the size of your main meal, rather it should be half! "Your safest bets are the Dolcini mini desserts, i…