The Healthiest Menu Items At Applebee's Gallery

With a slogan like "Bigger and Bolder," Applebee's isn't leading anyone to believe their menu options are diet-friendly. They're known for their ribs, fried food, and crazy-cheap cocktail deals. Most of their menu is heavy on the meat and light on the greens — even their salads are covered in things like chicken tenders and seasoned steak.

Even still, Applebee's is a huge chain. There are over 2,000 restaurants in the United States, and we're betting there have been more than a few customers wishing they knew of a healthier option. Two of the biggest concerns people have about the food at Applebee's are the sodium levels and the extra fat. Some of the dishes have sky-high calorie counts that scare away the more conscious consumers.

All of the nutrition information for Applebee's menu is available online; if you have a specific health concern such as high blood pressure or diabetes, it's best to double-check the original source to make sure you aren't eating something outside of what's safe. But for your average health-conscious diner, we've roved over the nutrition data and selected the 15 healthiest options.

You can also order this salad with grilled chicken — shrimp just has a bit fewer calories and grams of fat. This salad doesn't skimp on the dressing and cheese, so it's still got 660 calories and 51 grams of fat. However, there are greens under there somewhere, making it a lighter option than most of Applebee's meat-heavy dishes.

This dish includes an 8-ounce piece of steak topped with sautéed shrimp and a creamy Parmesan sauce. In total, it's 620 calories with 42 grams of fat. The nutrition information does not include the two sides you choose with the meal — we recommend choosing something with vegetables and some carbs. The Garlic Mashed Potatoes, for example, will only add 250 calories to your meal, as opposed to French fries that would tack on over 400.

The only drawback of this healthy, balanced order is the sodium. One order has 2,110 milligrams. But otherwise, this dish is a nutritious combination of grilled chicken, cranberry-pecan rice, and quinoa all topped with sweet apple relish and lemon vinaigrette. The meal is 570 calories of satisfying whole grains, healthy fats, and protein.

You might think the taco shell being a crispy fried wonton would make this dish a disaster, but the Chicken Wonton Tacos are a relatively low-fat and high-protein option. It's listed as an appetizer, but the three tacos you get with your order are large enough for some people to eat as a meal. One order adds to 500 calories, 20 grams of fat, and 38 grams of protein. The sodium content is lower than most of Applebee's other appetizers, with 1,540 milligrams.

If you aren't feeling super hungry, opting for a soup instead of a full entrée could sound appealing. The chili is one that won't leave you hungry, since it's loaded with protein and even has some fiber from the beans. A cup of this soup has 410 calories, 25 grams of fat, 1,110 milligrams of sodium, and 32 grams of protein. Applebee's also offers the option to order a soup with a salad.

Salmon is a staple of the increasingly popular Mediterranean diet, since it has lots of heart-healthy fats and other important vitamins. This salmon is seasoned and grilled and served alongside two sides of your choice. An order of this dish has 350 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1660 milligrams of sodium, and 37 grams of protein. The only thing to be aware of is the sugar in the glaze — the entire order has 18 grams of sugar total.

Applebee's offers the this sirloin in a 6-ounce or an 8-ounce portion. However, the recommended serving of meat (red meat especially) is 4 ounces. The meal comes with two sides of your choice, so you can round out your protein with some vegetables and healthy carbs. But surprisingly, this steak isn't too much of a load on your diet. The 6-ounce portion contains 200 calories and only 8 grams of fat.