something healthy at olive garden?

Question

My father has just been diagnosed with high cholesterol, his birthday is coming up and since he's never been to the Olive Garden, I want to take him. What would be alright for him to eat over there?

Answer 1

The unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks would be good for him. They have it at both lunchtime ($5.95) and dinner ($7.95). The minestrone soup is probably the healthiest, but I'm sure he could eat the pasta e fagioli or zuppa toscana. Its a great deal for a large amount of food.
If you were thinking more of the actual entrees for him then olive garden should def have something that is less full of cholesterol. They offer create your own pizza. You could get him a veggie filled pizza (Bell peppers, Black olives, Mushrooms, Roma tomatoes, Onions,etc.).
Now for the pasta dishes. Anything cheese-filled is a def no-no. The Linguine alla Marinara is quite healthy...its a pasta with a zesty blend of ripe tomatoes, onions and herbs. Or maybe the Capellini Pomodoro (Roma tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and extra-virgin olive oil tossed with capellini). The Eggplant Parmigiana is probably ok (lightly breaded eggplant, fried and topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese). Stay away from the filled pastas like ravioli and manicotti. Most of your chicken plates should be ok minus the chicken alfredo and stuffed chicken marsala...same with the seafood...stay away from anything stuffed or alfredo! Most of the menu should be pretty alright for him to eat from :) Enjoy.

Answer 2

They have the menu marked which food is not high in saturate fat. Keep him away of Seafood, alfredo sauces, cheese, and anything fried. He can order grilled chicken or fish with marinara sauce. I don't see a problem with him eating one bread stick, moderation is the key, and just remember not to eat something he'll crave. As for the salad you can order it without dressing or just order the dressing on the side.

I think all the food has oil, but in some of them they used extra virgin olive oil, which is not bad for someone w/ cholesterol. again moderation is the key !

Have a nice b-day !!

Answer 3

Go for the salad. Having high cholesterol does not prevent your father from eating what he wants at the Olive Garden. If you eat there day in and day out then its a problem but for one night have him enjoy his day. Even if you don't eat high cholesterol foods your body will produce it anyway. Moderation is the key to success in lowering cholesterol. One night of eating out won't spike his cholesterol to the roof. Happy birthday to your Dad.

Answer 4

Actually, Olive Garden has "Garden Fare" selections which are lower in fat. He can also order a low-fat salad dressing and ask them to serve it on the side. It's not the worst restaurant to diet in, as long as you can resist the breadsticks and the alfredo sauces!

Here's the website with the nutritional info! Happy birthday, Dad!

Answer 5

Actually, to all who said seafood, shrimp is VERY high in cholesrerol, and the house soup is made with sausage and cream- big no NO. Pasta with marina, and any kind of vegatable will be fine, as would grilled fish or chicken. And Most people don't understand that fat does not always mean cholesterol- depends on the kind of fat!!! Check their website for info, and understand that fat and calories are entirely different from cholesterol!

Answer 6

I go to Olive Garden alot so I would say that they have alot of healthy stuff. But the best is the soup and salad. The Minnastroni soup is good it's like vegtable soup and it's very healthy. I think their salad is very healthy to. I hope this helps.

Answer 7

Not too much actually. Tell him to go for the soup...they have really good minestrone soup. Stay away from the salad! The dressing is loaded with fat and oil. Any seafood dish minus any sauce like alfredo should be good. Spaghetti with marinara sauce might not be too bad, but it's still pretty high in fat due to the oil in the sauce.

Answer 8

wow nothing there is healthy!!! even the salad is soaked in fattening dressing, they do have soup though, maybe a good soup, but i mean its his b-day let him eat whatever he wants for the day at the olive garden!!.. oh ya the seafood alfredo is the $hit!!!

Answer 9

I imagine seafood would be the best bet for the high cholesterol. Salad would be good too.

Answer 10

a bowl of cheerios.


im serious...geez.....i would stay away from resturaunts for a while and try to make your own meals so you can know exactly wut ur putting in! Resturaunts may be full of stuff that can affect cholesteral.