Ready to start?

Find a meeting
Arrow graphic

Free E-mail Newsletter

Our free e-mail newsletter highlights recipes, Success Stories, helpful tips and more!
Restaurant Foods POINTS® Value Comparisons
 
  • Article By: Leslie Fink, MS, RD
  •  
  • Print
  •  
  • Email
 
Two women eating dumplings

POINTS® value comparisons for more than 90 items at your favorite Mexican, Chinese, Italian dining spots and more.

Let's face it: Eating out is a part of life. So when you're at an Italian restaurant and in the mood for pasta, how do your favorites measure up?

What about Chinese chicken dishes? Or even, Mexican drinks and diner-size servings of pie?

Read the article below

 
ADVERTISEMENT
 

Click on the links below to compare similar food items at five popular types of restaurants:

Italian
Fried entrees and creamy pasta dishes are obvious nutrition offenders, but if nothing but grease will satisfy, it's great to know that a serving of eggplant parmigiana has a higher POINTS® value than either veal or chicken variations.

Mexican
You could spend more than a day's worth of POINTS values on nachos and margaritas. But did you know that you can have a glass of sangria and two chicken fajitas for just 10 POINTS values? Stick with sautéed entrees that aren't drowning in cheese, and ask for extra salsa as a topping or dressing. If you want something rich and filling, go for nutrition-packed guacamole.

Chinese
Steamed appetizers and sautéed dishes are some of the best bets at Chinese restaurants. But if you want something deep-fried, get the most for your POINTS values—one cup of General Tso's chicken has 5 more POINTS values then a cup of sweet and sour chicken. Go for the sweet and sour and you'll have enough room to splurge on a cup of sesame noodles.

Japanese
Edamame and seaweed salad are great low POINTS value starters, while sautéed chicken entrees and white fish sushi make healthier entrée options. If you're in the mood for tempura, go for a shrimp tempura roll instead of regular shrimp tempura and save yourself 4 POINTS values.

Deli/Diner
Mayo-based salads are a staple here, but there are better bets on the menu: Half cup of egg salad has a POINTS value of 8, but a half cup of chicken salad has a POINTS value of only 6. Roast beef is a lean meat option, and fruit-based pies definitely have dessert-worthy potential.

Next Steps

Free Newsletter. Get it now.
 




Staff Site | About Us | Advertise | Press Room| Careers
Site Map | Contact Us | Help | Affiliate Program | Troubleshooting
Terms & Conditions | Privacy | For subscribers only: Subscription Agreement

© 2010 Weight Watchers International, Inc. © 2010 WeightWatchers.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
WEIGHT WATCHERS and POINTS are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and are used
under license by WeightWatchers.com, Inc.



International Sites