Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

[7Miriam]

I'm starting on extended Induction, and so far have been cooking all my meals. It is hard for me to make time to do this, and I'm trying to find particular meals at restaurant's that are ok for me to eat on Induction.

So far I've found the salad with beef kabobs at Moby Dick's (a restauant chain in my area) meal fits within Induction - the salad has lettuce, a few tomato, cucumber and onion slices, a few olives and a little feta cheese.

I asked the manager at two different Moby Dick's restaurant if any sugar was added to the meat - and they both said no and that the only thing they use to marriante the meat is olive oil, lemon juice and a little garlic powder.

Have people found other particular Induction friendly meals at chain restaurants?

[Barb1965]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

I like the grilled chicken salad at McDonald's, it has grilled chicken, bacon, cheese, a cherry tomato or two and lettuce greens. It also has carrots, but the pieces are big enough I just pick them out. I've also found that the Newman's own ranch dressing is higher in carbs than the Hidden Valley Ranch I usually use, so I keep a bottle of that in the fridge at work to use.

In a pinch, I've ordered a burger and just take it off the bun.

[boonie stomper]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

You can find induction friendly choices of some sort at a great many place, albeit often by placing orders using the words without, no, hold, etc..

...but I've found that it takes less time and money to cook up several meals worth of food at once; package them, freeze some/refrigerate until needed, so other times I can grab-n-go

..than to spend time & money getting to a restaurant, plus waiting for the food, and then paying for it. Plus, there's still the element of surprise sometimes, when you can't be sure you should eat what they give you. (Such as 'their' slaw, with secret ingredients, versus yours, made in a measured batch of known ingredients).

[DLS]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

I precook a bit of meat and stuff on the weekend to last out the week. It's easy to measure a bit of salad and put in ziplocks, easy to grab and go. I don't use any dressing at all but others use the low carb stuff.
If you have small containers you could do a bacon cheese burger, bunless of course, and nuke it at work and have your side salad too.
Thank God I am able to stay at home with the kids so my menu is a bit easier than you working gals. Good luck!

[lason]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

Cracker Barrel has a low carb menu

[7Miriam]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

Thanks guys - the McDondald's chicken salad was just what I was looking for - something near work that I could use as a back-up for times when I just can't make the time to cook.

[liv]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

Thanks guys - the McDondald's chicken salad was just what I was looking for - something near work that I could use as a back-up for times when I just can't make the time to cook.

Just be careful some of the salads have quite a few carbs. Check with the nutrition page
McDonald's USA - McDonald's Nutrition Facts

[kellyf48]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

it is hard unless you bring your own. They add a solution to almost all the grilled chicen. At the deli the girl who works there was put out when i asked to see the package the grilled chicken breasts came in. It was a sugar solution the inject for flavor, also the deli has roast beef and prime rib but i read the packages too and the same thing!!!

[LaceyLooWho]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

You might be further interested to know that some of the chicken you buy in the store has that same sugar solution. Its a good reason to always check labels.

I too like the chicken bacon ranch salad at mcdonalds. That link Liv posted says its 9 net carbs which doesnt sound too bad to me and after tossing the carrots like I do, I am sure it goes down even more. Its a good choice in a pinch but I stay away from that dressing because its loaded with sugar and carbs. I eat it dry if need be and it still hits the spot

[Momma2threegirls]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

I have found many many restraunts to be accomodating and no problem at all. ANY typical fast food chain can make you a burger without a bun. At Wendy's I get a cheeseburger no bun plain and a cesar side salad ( I leave the croutons off) You can have that basic thing at ANY burger joint. Red Robin will make you their burgers on a lettuce bun and I haven't found a restaunt that would replace the fries with a side salad or steamed veggie. Maybe I am used to living with someone with Celiac's...so when we eat out - it's always 20 questions. I find taco palces are the hardest. i order a taco salad, no beans and don't eat the "edible bowl" but I always feel hungry....what you can dos order "extra meat" and tell them you won't be eating the bowl...or sometimes if theya re nice and not real busy they'll make you a nice taco salad and give you extra lettuce as a substitute for not taking the bowl. But if you get a real young kid or hit rush hour lunch.....that may not be an option.

[Chanter7]

Re: Atkins Friendly Restaurant Chain Meals

Ruby's Diner is a southern California chain. They have a "Salad Burger" on their menu. It's essentially a ground beef burger, topped with cheese, grilled mushrooms and onion, and resting on a large bed of salad greens. They'll offer you salad dressing but you really don't need it . . .the au jus from the burger works the same way. ("Au jus" sounds a little grand for a hamburger, but you know what i mean.)

They also have what they advertise as "low carb" tacos. But the shells are some sort of flour, so it's anybody's guess exactly how "low" that is.

Most places you can get a chef's salad or a cobb salad that will need little or no Atkins adjustments. On the one I had today, I only had to remind myself not to overdo the cheese. Otherwise, perfect.