Restaurant food
Looking for healthier restaurant food? Here’s what to consider. Many of our examples are from chain restaurants, but the advice should hold up almost anywhere.
What to avoid
The 2022 Xtreme Eating Awards
Are these eight items the worst in America? Heck no. Are they extreme-worthy? You bet.
How to order healthy restaurant meals
Whether it’s Thai, Chinese, pizza, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, or any other cuisine, restaurant foods are often too high in calories, white flour, saturated fat, salt, or sugar. Meanwhile, vegetables, fruits, and other healthy plant foods can be sparse.
Healthy Eating
Our guide to placing healthier takeout orders
When the coronavirus hit, in-restaurant dining evaporated. And many of us are still leaning on takeout to keep our distance. Here’s a quick guide to placing healthier orders.
Healthy Eating
Win or lose? Restaurant menu items face off
Healthy Eating
Breakfast on the run: A guide to coffee shops
Calories on the menu
Turkey or tuna sandwich? Tacos or fajitas? Latte or mocha? Calorie counts might help you decide. And they're now required on menus at chain restaurants with 20 or more locations.
Calories revealed!
How can a chicken sandwich have "960-1,250 calories"? Our guide to ranges, slashes, and other calorie labels on menus helps clear up the confusion.
What to look for
What's the catch?
Eating out or ordering in? If the restaurant has 20 or more locations, the menu has to list calories. But some menus—especially those online or in apps—are tricky.
Learn about apps
Calories on the menu—finally!
Americans get about a third of their calories from eating out, so they deserve to know what restaurants are serving up. That's why we fought for this labeling law.
See the backstory
Cuisine by cuisine
Counting calories in Thai, Chinese, Italian, etc.
Restaurant entrées (with sides) from many cuisines average 1,300 calories. Here's a look at Greek, Indian, Italian, Thai, Chinese food, and more.
Some past Xtreme Eating Award "winners"
Many dishes on chain restaurant menus are loaded with calories, saturated fat, sodium, or all three. But some are standouts. For years, we've given Xtreme Eating Awards to some of the worst.
The latest
Our best (free) healthy tips
Our free Healthy Tips newsletter offers a peek at what Nutrition Action subscribers get—scrupulously researched advice about food of all kinds, staying healthy with diet and exercise, and more.