Ok, so I am usually a fairly healthy eater, but the holidays have surely taken their toll on me. Enjoying rich foods and drinks with family and friends is OK, for a little while. Now that January is here, I am ready to get back into my old habits.
Going out to eat can wreak havoc on a healthy diet, because most people do not realize the amount of calories that go into most restaurant meals. There are several restaurants in the area that I feel offer great healthy alternatives that most importantly still taste great!
* I will continue to add to this list over time*
1. Butera's Restaurants (Seaford, Woodbury, and Smithtown locations)
I recently went to Butera's for lunch and ordered my favorite salad:
The Warm Frisée, Spinach and Chicken Salad - Grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mixed greens, smoked mozzarella with a warm white wine vinaigrette
Important note: Order the dressing on the side and use one spoonful to drizzle over the salad. The roasted peppers give the salad some slip, so keep the calories down by using as little dressing as possible.
Butera's offers other great salads for lunch and dinner:
Warm Grilled Scallop Salad
Jumbo scallops (4), shiitake mushrooms, cannellini beans, tomato, mixed greens, warm white wine vinaigrette
Grilled Shrimp Salad
Jumbo shrimp (5), mixed greens, diced fresh mozzarella, tomato, and onions
with house vinaigrette
Let's face it, sometimes a salad just won't do. This restaurant offers an entire "low carb" menu that offers healthy, hot selections. Try one of these to leave full, not feeling guilty:
Grilled Salmon over a light saute of broccoli, red peppers and fresh tomatoes |
|
|
Basa Filet
sauteed with shiitake mushrooms, spinach and fresh tomatoes in melted mozzarella |
|
|
Grilled Chicken Primavera
(Red or White)
zucchini, squash, mushrooms, carrots and peas sauteed in a light garden tomato sauce or garlic and oil brodino, served over chicken |
|
|
Grilled Tilapia
over light saute of spinach, broccoli, shiitake mushrooms and fresh tomato |
|
|
Grilled Chicken Breast over a light saute of escarole and fennels, greens and yellow squash
These two restaurants are also affiliated with Barrique Kitchen and Wine Bar in Babylon. I happen to prefer Hemingway's (I like the fireplace upstairs), but Argyle offers some wonderful, healthy choices that I listed below. Note: Ask them to hold the mashed potatoes and give you a double order of the vegetable OR have a few bites of the potatoes (if you trust yourself :)) Remember, anything with "loin" is always a lean cut i.e. sirloin, pork tenderloin.
Menu items below are from the Argyle's website (Hemingway's menu has the same or similar items most of the time, but they do not have their menu posted online).
Portobello Chicken
topped with portobello mushroom and fresh mozzarella, with sautéed spinach, red “B” mashed potatoes and a port wine demi
Sauteed Pork Tenderloin Medallions
pommeray mustard cabernet demi, red “B” mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus
Chicken Paillard
grilled marinated chicken with tri color salad, white balsamic vinaigrette and grilled pita bread |
Cedar river Farms “All natural” Sirloin
16-oz. all-natural NY shell steak, red wine demi hand cut with red “B” mashed potatoes
and haricot verts
Grilled Swordfish
sundried tomato pearl cous cous, grilled zucchini & yellow squash, lemon cilantro
Bon Appetit!
No comments:
Post a Comment