Olive Garden destroys the idea of healthy Mediterranean food by loading it with saturated fat, carbohydrates, and salt. While their menu is far from the worst we have seen, there are few entrees that could genuinely be called healthy.
If you’re looking for a healthier option for Italian food, try Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
See more restaurant meal recommendations.
What to Order
The best entrees on the Olive Garden menu are their herb-grilled salmon and their shrimp scampi.
On the dessert menu, opt for the Dolcini – Strawberry & White Chocolate.
Please bear in mind that these are not healthy choices. We recommend avoiding meals with a Heart Health SCORE below 75. But if you must eat at Olive Garden, these are your best bets.
| SCORE | Calories | Fat | Saturated Fat | Trans Fat | Cholesterol | Sodium | Carbohydrates | Fiber | Sugar | Protein | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herb-Grilled Salmon | 56 | 460 | 29 | 8 | 0 | 120 | 1110 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 45 |
| Herb-Grilled Salmon Coho (Regional) | 68 | 350 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 120 | 770 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 50 |
| Shrimp Scampi | 62 | 510 | 20 | 7 | 0.5 | 165 | 960 | 54 | 4 | 5 | 29 |
| Dolcini - Strawberry & White Chocolate | 83 | 190 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 23 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| Daily Values | ~ | 78 g | 20 g | ~ | 300 mg | 2300 mg | 275 g | 28 g | ~ | 50 g |
Our Heart Health SCORE algorithm identifies healthier choices with higher scores.
See complete nutrition info for Olive Garden.
What to Avoid
The restaurant’s signature breadsticks are a health disaster. A single breadstick with garlic topping contains a wopping 460mg of sodium.
Even the salad at Olive Garden is not a safe bet. A plain salad without dressing has 250mg of sodium. With Italian dressing, it has 770mg!
