Episode 012: Healthy Dining Review – Skinnylicious® at The Cheesecake Factory

In this tasty episode, Annette and her sidekick Gail critique the flavor and nutritional content of 4 Skinnylicious® options at The Cheesecake Factory. Listen here to find out what you should be ordering! All healthy dining reviews are comprised of 3 segments: 1) restaurant background 2) eating experience and 3) nutrition evaluation. 

ENTREES REVIEWED IN THE EPISODE ARE:

SKINNYLICIOUS® VEGGIE BURGER: A Delicious “Burger” Made with Brown Rice, Farro, Mushrooms, Black Beans & Onion. Served on a Toasted Bun with Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Pickles & Mayo. Served with a Green Salad ($11.50)

SKINNYLICIOUS® CHICKEN ENCHILADAS: Covered with Our Red Chile Sauce and Melted Cheese. Served with Escabeche Vegetable Salad ($13.95)

TUSCAN CHICKEN: Grilled Chicken Breast with Tomatoes, Artichokes, Capers, Fresh Basil and Balsamic Vinaigrette. Served Over Fresh Vegetables and Farro ($16.50)

GRILLED STEAK MEDALLIONS: Certified Angus Beef® Served with Fresh Asparagus, Shiitake Mushrooms, Sauteed Cherry Tomatoes, Crushed Croutons, Mashed Potatoes and Madeira Wine Sauce ($16.50)

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE…

00:00– Food Sommelier show introduction.

00:33– Today’s topic is number 3 in a series called “Healthy Dining Reviews.”

00:55– Today’s restaurant is The Cheesecake Factory.

01:02– The last 2 Healthy Dining Reviews have been for Chili’s and Olive Garden.

01:48– The Cheesecake Factory company history.

09:48– Skinnylicious Menu is bigger and more diverse than any of the other restaurants reviewed so far.

11:20– At the restaurant. The menu offers 20 to 30 options all under 590 calories.

13:24– Veggie Burger Review.

“Our scale only goes up to 5, if not I’d probably give it more. This is probably the best veggie burger I’ve had in my life. It was fabulous.”

17:22– Skinnylicious Chicken Enchiladas Review.

“This met all my criteria and above. It was beautifully arranged, it was very vibrate in the colors, the textures were fantastic, it had a nice smokey flavor to it, it had the red chile spice to it. I really liked it.”

21:40– Bread Basket Review

22:24– Tuscan Chicken Review

26:00– Praise of the restaurant

“I always thought this place was a crowded tourist trap, but now I realize why it is always so crowded.”

27:05– Grilled Steak Medallions Review.

30:06– Annette’s Favorite Dish

30:26– Gail’s Favorite Dish.

32:10– Thank you to Hungry Girl website for nutrition facts.

33:09– Annette’s 7 criteria for healthiness grading. She was only able to find 4 of the criteria for The Cheesecake Factory.

34:00– Veggie Burger Grade: B

35:12– Skinnylicious Chicken Enchiladas Grade: C

36:32– Tuscan Chicken Grade: B

37:42– Grilled Steak Medallions Grade: C-D+

39:28– Final Nutrition Review

“This restaurant just seems to be a cut above. In terms of freshness, the ingredients don’t seem like they’re coming from a commissary, the meat doesn’t seem processed, obviously the price point is a few dollars more, but it is definitely a cut above.”

EATING EXPERIENCE RATINGS…

NUTRITION EVALUATION TABLE:

RESOURCES DISCUSSED:

Skinnylicious® Menu at The Cheesecake Factory

Nutrition facts for the entire Cheesecake factory menu – curtesy of The Hungry Girl

The Cheesecake Factory Annual Report 2014

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

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Until next time!

Keywords: Cheesecake Factory, Skinnylicious, Restaurant Review, Podcast

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