![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/olivegarden.jpg\" "\\"GRA0135241")
<\/a>After extensive internet research about the calories at the mall restaurants, I suggested Olive Garden. It’s been years since I’ve eaten there. I’m not usually fond of chain restaurants but that’s all I had to choose from.<\/p>\nThe waitress offered us free tastings of their house red to decide if we wanted some. Oddly, she poured us both half a glass. While I’m certainly not complaining…I’m pretty sure a taste isn’t half a glass. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n
Michael wanted to order the artichoke spinach dip. He said it was amazing. We both agreed it didn’t hold up to memory. It was pretty blah if you asked me.<\/p>\n Why? Because the calories were soooo LOW. Low?! At a chain restaurant?! I am so baffled.<\/p>\n For example, according to their guide the Artichoke dip was 650 calories. Split between two people that’s not too bad.<\/p>\n The bread-sticks were 150 calories each. (Thankfully Michael kept them at his end of the table.)<\/p>\n Some of the lower-calorie options:<\/span><\/p>\n Venetian Apricot Chicken = 380 calories<\/span><\/p>\n Seafood Brodetto = 480 calories<\/span><\/p>\n Chicken Parmigiana = 570 calories<\/span><\/p>\n Ravioli di Portobello = 450 calories<\/span><\/p>\n Penne Rigate with Marinara = 560 calories<\/span><\/p>\n Tiramisu = 510 calories<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Pretty impressive right?<\/p>\n The more high-end options calorie wise:<\/span><\/p>\n Spaghetti and Italian Sausage = 1270 calories<\/span><\/p>\n Pork Milanese = 1510 calories<\/span><\/p>\n Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara = 1440 calories<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n I took a double take. How is that possible that ravioli was so low? I wondered how accurate the numbers were…but then they couldn’t publish LIES, right?<\/p>\n I ordered the Cheese Ravioli with the salad.<\/p>\n I’m really happy with the restaurant experience–even if the food was rather bland. It was better than I could have made at home and low in calories. I’m still impressed with that.<\/p>\n I ate some dessert. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n Michael Jammin' Out<\/p><\/div>\n Then to REI where I walked out with these:<\/p>\n I got home and showed Fat Kitty his (early) Yule present.<\/p>\n<\/a>I decided to order one glass of the red. So essentially I had 2 servings of wine (because of the free “taste” AND she topped off our glasses after we drank some). Score one for the waitress!<\/p>\n<\/a>I agonized over the menu; looking up the desired entrees on my iPhone to see what the calories were. Then I saw on the menu that the servers can get complete nutritional info. I asked for it. She brought the complete nutritional guide for the menu and I was SHOCKED.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>The ravioli was on the bland side. It needed garlic and maybe more meat in the meat sauce. But for 660 calories<\/strong> I’m happy!<\/p>\n<\/a>I ate most of the ravioli and saved the rest for lunch (plus 1 bread-stick).<\/p>\n<\/a>Michael got the Lasagna Classico for 850 calories<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/a>I had a bite of his lasagna and it was much more flavorful than my ravioli. We both agreed it needed garlic though.<\/p>\n<\/a>Then Michael and I went shopping. First: Target.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>$25 goggles for $16. They claim to be leak free. I’ve yet to find a pair of swimming goggles that don’t leak. The awesome thing about REI–I can return them even after I wear them in the water! Looking forward to my swim this weekend to try these babies out.<\/p>\n<\/a>“IS THAT FOR ME!?”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>“OPEN IT MOM!!!”<\/strong><\/p>\n