help! unavoidable greasy italian lunch

what to eat?! I have to go out to lunch at this notoriously crappy italian chain called la porchetta and I'm desperate for help in making a good decent calorie choice. this is the menu: http://www.laporchetta.com.au/menu/ any opinions would be great! although choosing just a salad isnt really an option because I'm pretty sure I'd be teased until I'm 100.

who are you going to lunch with and if they would tease you - why go???

The grilled fish doesn't look bad.

If you can't order what YOU want, why even go?

 

But I would go with the grilled chicken and vegtables

I'd get the grilled chicken...but I think a ceasar salad would be the best option. 

Or grilled fish.  That's even lower in calories than chicken.

EDIT: oops, I guess that was already said.

Generally, though, the grilled meats are actually safer bets than the salad, because salad dressings can be very fattening, but the meats, provided you get them with no added oil, are just pure lean protein, and easier to control.

the grilled fish or the chili prawns.... not awful

ooooh get this:

Warm Chicken Salad
Grilled chicken tossed with fresh lettuce, cucumber, tomato,
topped with sun-dried tomatoes and drizzled with a
tangy balsamic, mustard and white wine dressing

even the crappiest of chain restaurants can generally produce a house salad. Be creative. you don't HAVE to order the most ridiculously fattening thing on the menu. Maybe just order an appetizer. Or find something that sounds remotely healthy and ask them to put the sauce on the side, or grill it inside of frying. It won't be the end of the world either if you indulge a little bit.

also this sounds yummy:

Insalata di Salmone Affumicato
Slices of smoked salmon tossed with a fresh garden salad
topped with slices of avocado and drizzled with a lemon dressing

Hi, I'm claire too!

The heck with what anyone else thinks.  Go straight to the salad section of the menu.  I see on the side dishes they have a bowl of steamed vegetables too.  Ask for the dressing on the side.

I'm sorry your friends make you feel self conscious about eating right.  Don't let anybody make choices for you.

claire244246, don't allow people to make you feel bad about trying to eat healthy. If I cared what people said about my loosing weight I would have stopped 20 lbs ago. I would have stopped at my blood pressure being so high I was on my way to a stroke or a heart attack. You are doing this for you --  not for people who are waaayyyy too lazy to try and eat healthy....order the salad, and when someone makes a snyde comment, tell them this...I am sorry I am eating this for me not for you. Then ask them, "Do I tell you what to eat?" Please don't allow people to dictate your healthiness, you will be dead and they will still be here, saying things like - - I told her she should have yadda, yadda, yadda!!!! If you show them there will be ones that will follow suit, everyone wants to be skinny....and don't you let anyone else tell you different.  

I'd get the grilled chicken...but I think a ceasar salad would be the best option. 

Caeser dressing is usually very high cal. If you did go with the Caeser get the dressing on the side (most restaurants mix it in with the lettuce, and use a ton.... at Johnny Carino's the Caeser salad has as many fat grams as a big mac- thanks to the dressing)

I'd get the grilled fish! Yum! Or ask them if they have any whole wheat pasta. That with marinara (as long as you don't eat too much of it, because I imagine the portions are huge) is pretty low cal and you still get the "italian" feel.

Original Post by lovinmylife24:

I'd get the grilled chicken...but I think a ceasar salad would be the best option. 

I wouldn't get the ceasar salad. The dressing is just LOADED with calories and fat.

thanks for all the quick replies! I actually ended up indulging in some lovely alla matriciana pasta, but it was worth it. although next time I'll hit up the salad section for sure.

Well done.  I have a routine at Italian restaurants - I always order a salad to start and eat the entire salad before eating anything else.  I have the dressing on the side and dip the tines of the fork into it, then spear the salad.  You get just a taste of dressing and will eat much less of it.  This takes the edge off hunger and helps me to not overeat.

DO NOT eat the bread!  Drink only water.  Order what you like and eat only half of it (because the portions are always too big.)  Avoid cream or Alfredo sauces and greasy meats like sausage and meatballs.  Avoid stuffed pasta like lasagne and canneloni, or anything with gobs of melted cheese.

I'm glad you had a good time.