Lateefah Johnson
November 23, 2010
Health Psychology 314
Eating at Red Lobster
Every Sunday, after church I would ask my mom, where we were going to eat and her
response would always be the same, “Red Lobster.” Red Lobster was by far, her most favorite
place to eat. Being in this health psychology class, I encouraged my mom to try to order healthy
items on the menu. We decided on what we were going to eat by calculating the fat content.
To calculate the fat content you should remember; protein =4, carbohydrates =4, and fat
=9. You have to multiply the grams of fat by nine, then divide that number by the total amount of
protein, carbohydrates, and fat you would get the fat content. You next multiply that number by
100 and you will get the percentage of fat. It is okay to eat 30% or less of fat in a meal, but
anything about 30% of fat is bad.
1. Cheddar Bay Biscuit (each)
Fat Calories 72g
Carbohydrate Calories 64g
Percent Calories from Fat 48% -Bad
2. Mozzarella Cheesesticks
Fat Calories 351g
Carbohydrate Calories 196g
Percent Calories from Fat 52% - Bad
3. Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail
Fat Calories 4.5g
Carbohydrate Calories 36g
Percent Calories from Fat 3.8%- Good
4. New England clam chowder Soup (Cup)
Fat Calories 153g
Carbohydrate Calories 52g
Percent Calories from Fat 67%- Bad
5. Crab Linguini Alfredo
Fat Calories 225g
Carbohydrate Calories 188g
Percent Calories from Fat 40%- Bad
6. Oven Broiled Fish
Fat Calories 18g
Carbohydrate Calories 40g
Percent Calories from Fat 5.6% - Good
7. Snow Crab Legs (1 pound)
Fat Calories 18g
Carbohydrate Calories 0g
Percent Calories from Fat 10%- Good
8. Wild Rice Pilaf
Fat Calories 27g
Carbohydrate Calories 136g
Percent Calories from Fat 15% -Good
9. Fresh Broccoli
Fat Calories 4.5g
Carbohydrate Calories 24g
Percent Calories from Fat 10%- Good
10. Chocolate Wave Cake
Fat Calories 729g
Carbohydrate Calories 688g
Percent Calories from Fat 49%- Bad
11. Sail Away Smoothie- Sunset Strawberry
Fat Calories 54g
Carbohydrate Calories 188g
Percent Calories from Fat 22%- Good
12. New York-Style Cheesecake with Strawberries
Fat Calories 324g
Carbohydrate Calories 156g
Percent Calories from Fat 62%- Bad
After calculating twelve items from Red Lobster, I made a few suggestions to her of what
she should eat, and what she should try to stay away from. Red Lobster is known for there
famous cheddar bay biscuits, and although they are good they are not the healthiest item on the
menu. In fat they are bad for you; they have 48% calories from fat per biscuit. It may be wise to
tell your waiter or waitress not to bring your table any biscuits. My mom always likes to begin
with an appetizer of mozzarella cheesesticks, which she should refrain from because they have
52% calories from fat.
I encouraged my mom to order oven- broiled fish, with wild rice pilaf and fresh broccoli;
all of these items do not have high percent calories from fat. Other items on this menu that are
not bad to eat are the snow crab legs (1 pound), they only have 10% calories from fat. Chilled
shrimp cocktail, is also a delicious item on the menu that is not high in percent calories from fat,
it only has 3.8%, which is very good. Items you should refrain from eating is the crab linguini
alfredo, and the New England clam chowder which are high in percent calories from fat.
It is rewarding to finish off dinner with dessert, however after I calculated two dessert
items, chocolate wave cake, and New York style cheesecake with strawberries, I made a
suggestion that it would be healthier to just settle for a Sunset Strawberry Sail Away Smoothie,
which only has 22% calories from fat.
After calculating these items at Red Lobster, I have a better knowledge to encourage my
mom what she should eat, and what she should refrain from. It is not hard to eat healthy,
because there are a lot of items, that that are delicious but don’t have a high percent calories of
fat, you just have to be aware of what you are eating.
Website Used: http://www.redlobster.com/health/nutrition/Nutrition_Facts.pdf