New Orleans is celebrated for its food, but dining at your favorite restaurants doesn’t have to mean ditching your otherwise-healthy diet. And making smart menu choices certainly doesn’t mean you’re relegated to plain grilled chicken over dry lettuce.
Molly Kimball, registered dietitian with Ochsner’s Elmwood Fitness Center, has collaborated with local restaurants to create Eat Fit NOLA, a partnership that highlights the better-for-you items right on the menu, making it effortless for anyone to eat nutritiously, anywhere in the city.
If you own a restaurant and are interested in joining or would like more information about Eat Fit NOLA, let us know! Send an email to Molly Kimball, mkimball@ochsner.org.
Look for the Ochsner-approved seal on menus to identify Eat Fit NOLA menu items, indicating that a menu item meets the following criteria::
Entrée or Entrée Salad:
- Less than 600 calories
- Less than 800 mg sodium
- Less than 10% of calories from saturated fat
- 0 grams trans fats
- No white, refined starches
- Less than 5 grams (one teaspoon) of added sugar (e.g. honey, agave, sugar, etc)
- Less than 300 calories
- Less than 400 mg sodium
- Less than 10% of calories from saturated fat
- 0 grams trans fats
- No white, refined starches
- Less than 5 grams (one teaspoon) of added sugar (e.g. honey, agave, sugar, etc)
Current Restaurant Partners
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Coming Soon to Eat Fit NOLA
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Molly's Restaurant Tips
Follow the below tips to make your restaurant meals nutritious & figure-friendly:
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Our general formula for a Eat Fit NOLA menu item is a lean protein with a salad and/or a non-starchy veggie.
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Splitting an entrée can be a good option, just as long as you’re not skimping on protein (for many, an appropriate serving is the size of your palm – your own palm, not your wife’s or your kid’s) and you’re still getting plenty of veggies. And don’t think that you’re automatically in the clear if you order ‘just an appetizer’ as your entrée. With many appetizers topping 1,000 calories, it’s no guarantee that you’ll end up with a better-for-you option.
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Don’t be afraid to make a few special requests. Most restaurants are more than happy to oblige when it comes to serving salad dressings or rich sauces on the side, or nixing the (higher-calorie) starchy side item in favor of extra veggies. And ask for no added salt or salt-containing seasonings if you’re watching your sodium intake.
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If you’re looking to treat yourself, try to limit that ‘treat’ to one type of ‘extra,’ whether it’s a modest amount of pre-meal bread or chips, a starchy side item, a (shared) dessert, or a cocktail.
- And speaking of alcohol, keep things simple with beer, wine, a martini, or any other mixed drink with a low-sugar mixer like water, soda, or diet soft drink to keep calories in check. Most of these drinks will range from 100 to 200 calories, depending on size and potency.
