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DEL.ICIO.USWould you like to order dessert now?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What do you do when you’re trying to choose healthier restaurant foods and it’s time for dessert? Do you ask for the check and run for the door? Or do you order that brownie your sweet tooth is craving? How do you deal with indulgence? Maybe your idea of splurging is the deep fried calamari or the creamy lobster bisque? Do you feel guilty when you order high calorie/ high fat food items? Or do you plan for the occasional splurge? The Healthy Eating Out topic today is not about the virtues of bean sprouts and tofu…..it’s about the real life stategies of adding a little sweet fun to meals.
Comments
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By Wookin' Pnub
April 24, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
DESPAIR! I want a medley of desserts, I can never decide between the Chocolate Cake or the Cheesecake, or the Key Lime Tart…
I do not feel guilty, because I eat healthy and exercise all week long and have one “cheat” day a week. Either Saturday or Sunday.
I have also mastered the art of low-calorie, fat, sugar desserts at home. So, I am never afraid to indulge when dining out.
By Rod
April 24, 2006 09:33 AM | Link to this
I’ve turned to saying no more often for one simple reason - the price! The average dessert these days is now up to $5 - 8 per serving. This is rediculous. I had been just spliting one with my spouse, but now I just go home and have a little something out of the pantry or fridge that might average about $1-2 per serving.
By Fluffy
April 24, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this
Like Wookin’, I try to eat healthy all the time. Usually when I eat out I’m so stuffed to the gills with the restaurant’s healthier fare that I rarely want dessert. On the ocassion that I do want dessert, I get it. Since we only go out to eat about once a month, it’s not an issue really. I prefer cooking at home, desserts too sometimes, because I know exactly what’s going in the food and I can control fats, sugars and hydrogenated-type evils.
If I give myself a choice at the restaurant between dessert and an appetizer…APPETIZER ALL THE WAY!!!! Ruby Tuesday’s chicken dumplings with spicy asian sauce rock my world!
By TheRoss
April 24, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this
I agree with the price these days. I used to ALWAYS get dessert. But after years of overpriced, low quality desserts from many places, I don’t nearly as often as I used to. And I always split with my wife now.
I do have a fondness for the Oreo Madness from TGI Fridays, and the Caramel Pie from O’Charley’s though.
By Jay Bee
April 24, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this
Used to share with spouse but no more. (1)Prefer not to spend the extra money. (2) I am good at avoiding temptation - when I get home I grab a sweet, crunchy apple which I enjoy even more than dessert.
By buddy
April 24, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this
i have to think ,”is it worth it?” to my body. i also have to be careful because i am a little obsessive about , wow how many carbs or calories was that , and that alone is not worth it.money is not an issue, but “the ross ” said it best, many desserts are fair and low quality.
By Carolyn
April 24, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe all of you so far …have said that you don’t get dessert. Where are our brownie loving, cheesecake crazy, chocolate ice cream craving foodie friends? I do agree that low quality desserts are the worst offenders in restaurant world. You splurge on the price and the calories and then there’s no reward!!!
By Carolyn
April 24, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this
Come on! I can’t believe you are all so good all of the time!! Where are our brownie loving, cheesecake crazy, chocolate craving foodie friends? I do agree that it’s totally a bummer when you pay the price in your wallet and waistine when a restaurant dessert is lousy. There’s no reward. THe best dessert I’ve had lately was at a new restaurant in NYC called A Voce. It was made with fresh grapefruit and pana cotta. Unbelievable.
By Beezie
April 24, 2006 06:19 PM | Link to this
I think I’m lucky to not have much of a sweet tooth, but when I need a sugar fix I try to satisfy it with real food—maybe fruit with real whipped cream. If I get that petroleum-based meltproof oversweetened nondairy foolishness on my strawberries I scrape it off. Yuck. I’m not sure why restaurants think that making a dessert teeth-achingly sweet will compensate for its lack of flavor.
By ATLChica
April 25, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I love desserts. I combat that by buying those Weight Watchers Smart Ones desserts whenever I get a sweets craving. My nutritionist recommended them. They come in a bunch of They’re really delicious and most have less than 200 calories.