Applebee's

Nutrition Action Healthletter, Jan-Feb, 2005

How convenient to have calories, fat, and fiber listed right on the menu (okay, at least on the Weight Watchers portion).

So you know before you order that the Tango Chicken Sandwich delivers 370 calories and 8 grams of fiber, for example. And while sodium numbers would help, at least you can decide whether to spend 340 calories on the Grilled Tilapia with Mango Salsa or 170 calories on the Grilled Shrimp Skewer Salad. And you can mull over whether the Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake or Berry Lemon Cheesecake is worth 230 calories.

The Weight Watchers menu slashes calories. For example:

* Tortilla Chicken Melt, made with reduced-fat mozzarella and cheddar and vegetables in a whole-wheat tortilla with non-fat ranch dressing, has about half the 900 calories (and less than a quarter of the 60 grams of fat) of the cheese quesadillas with sour cream and guacamole you'd get at a typical Mexican restaurant.

* Sizzling Chicken Skillet, with its veggies, non-fat ranch dressing, and whole-wheat tortillas, has less than half the 840 calories--and a sixth of the 24 grams of fat--of the chicken fajitas at most Mexican restaurants (without even counting the fajitas' sour cream, guacamole, beans, and rice).

* Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers, served with rice pilaf and vegetables, has just 260 calories--about half as much as the shrimp scampi with rice and veggies at a typical seafood restaurant.

Bottom line: everything on the menu gets a Better Bite. But nothing gets a Best Bite because the chain doesn't disclose sodium.

Applebee's

Weight Watchers

                                                     Total
          Appetizers                     Calories   Fat (g)   Fiber (g)

[check]   Onion Soup au Gratin             150          8         1
[check]   Tortilla Chicken Melt            480         13         6

          Entrees
[check]   Grilled Shrimp Skewer Salad      170          1         7
[check]   Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers with     260          2         6
            rice pilaf and vegetables
[check]   Mesquite Chicken Salad           200          4         5
[check]   Sizzling Chicken Skillet         360          4        10
            with vegetables and whole-
            wheat tortillas
[check]   Grilled Tilapia with Mango       340          8         4
            Salsa, with rice pilaf and
            vegetables
[check]   Tango Chicken Sandwich with      370          9         8
            fresh fruit Desserts
[check]   Chocolate Raspberry Layer        230          3         3
            Cake
[check]   Berry Lemon Cheesecake           230           7        2

[check] Better Bite.

Daily Values  (daily limits for a 2,000-calorie diet):
Total Fat: 65 grams.
Fiber:  25 grams.