The Healthiest Menu Items At Cheesecake Factory Gallery

Eating healthy when you're out at a restaurant can be tricky — and at the Cheesecake Factory, it may seem impossible. You flip through page after page of the menu, gawking at the impossibly high calorie counts listed next to each item.

You might be tempted to throw in the towel and just order something truly indulgent. Shrimp scampi, maybe, or a loaded bacon cheeseburger. Occasionally, it's probably a good idea to order those "unhealthy" items that sound good to you.

If you always deprive yourself from ordering certain foods, you're going to drive yourself crazy. The actual healthiest choice is the choice you want — when you allow yourself the food you crave all of the time, you're actually more likely to make balanced choices in the long run. You're wired to want what you can't have. Only when you can have it all do you really get to tune in to what your body craves.

If you have legitimate health concerns or dietary restrictions prescribed by a doctor, it is of course important to pay attention to related aspects of your diet. Sodium, for instance, and making sure you get enough protein are both worthwhile concerns. Sugar is another relevant concern for diabetics, specifically. But if you're just trying to lose weight, looking at calories on menus might not help you in the long run.

Unfortunately, the only information the Cheesecake Factory makes publically available is their calorie counts. In fact, they print them directly on the menu for you to browse as you choose. They also separate the lower-calorie options to a separate menu: the "Skinnylicious" menu. Many of these menu items made it onto this list; however, the items that were so low-calorie and lacking in sustenance that they would not satiate you for a meal were omitted. Ordering something without enough protein, carbohydrates, and fats to subsist a meal isn't actually healthy at all! With all these things considered, here are the 15 healthiest menu items at the Cheesecake Factory — though we encourage you to order whatever you truly crave.

We also have a list of the unhealthiest menu items at the Cheesecake Factory.

A healthy hamburger? You didn't think it was possible, but it is. You don't even have to bother cutting this sandwich in half — it's 580 calories for the whole thing. You don't get any French fries with your order, but you do get a side salad.

Lean turkey breast and smooth avocado come together for a satisfying, nutritious sandwich. Even though it still includes bacon, mayonnaise, and a carb-filled toasted bun, this menu item has just 560 calories.

This salad might be on the Skinnylicious menu, but it's still loaded with delicious and satisfying foods. The Asian Chicken Salad is a bed of romaine lettuce topped with carrots, grilled chicken for some lean protein, bean sprouts, green onions, cilantro, rice noodles, wontons, almonds, and sesame seeds. All those balanced ingredients are drizzled with a sesame-soy dressing to add more flavor. Even with all of that going on, the dish is only 550 calories.

Better-for-you Mexican food? This order really is the whole enchilada. The tortilla-wrapped dish is cheesy, smothered in sauce, and served with a side salad. It's 530 calories total.

Want to eat shrimp pasta but want to avoid the creamy, buttery indulgence in some restaurant dishes? This lemon-garlic shrimp is a happy medium — you get angel hair pasta and sautéed shrimp, all topped with basil, tomato, and lemon-garlic sauce. Who said pasta had to be loaded with calories? This dish is just 510.

Just because you're trying to eat healthy does not mean you need to give up tacos. (Phew.) This order is either 510 calories if you order chicken or 480 if you opt for shrimp — both provide a good amount of lean protein. You might think that since the tacos are on the "Skinnylicious" menu that they'd be lacking in your typical taco toppings, but that is not the case. They're topped with avocado, tomato, onions, cilantro, and a crema. They are a little smaller than your usual order of tacos, so keep that in mind if you're especially hungry.

Ahi tuna is loaded with nutrients such as the rare selenium, vitamin B, and protein. Avocado and wasabi pesto provide some healthy fats to keep you satiated with this 490 calorie meal.