Eat something a little lighter

Spring is here, warmer weather is on the way and for many of us that means, when we're out to eat, we want something a little lighter. 

Spring is here, warmer weather is on the way and for many of us that means, when we're out to eat, we want something a little lighter.  ?Several restaurant chains catch on to this, and start offering lighter, lower calorie fare to keep customers coming...all the way through swimsuit season!  For example: Burger King appeals to the health-conscious with its first-ever turkey burger, grilled and topped with fresh-cut lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and mayonnaise, on an artisanal-style bun. McDonald’s will launch the Egg White Delight in late-April.  Made of egg whites, Canadian bacon and white cheddar cheese on a whole grain English muffin, this new McMuffin sandwich weighs in at 250 calories vs. 300 for the chain’s classic Egg McMuffin.  McDonald’s has had successes (fruit smoothies) and flops(McLean Deluxe hamburger) with healthier choices through the years, and the company plans to drop its fruit and walnut salad, Reuters reports. And finally…even Cracker Barrel, known for its Southern comfort foods such as fried chicken and sugar-cured ham, may try something a little healthier this summer!  According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, breakfast meals will pack less than 500 calories and lunch/dinner meals less than 600.  ?The menu candidates?  A 300-calorie grilled catfish with seasoned pecan crust, brushed with orange marmalade, and served with roast vegetables; a 360-calorie baked chicken breast, dressed in buttermilk and coated with cornflake crumbs; a 390-calorie breakfast sandwich off eggs and Colby cheese on whole wheat flat bread, with fresh fruit on the side. Healthier & lighter efforts like these raise a restaurants credibility.  Compared with, say, a decade ago when 57 lighter food choices typically meant no sauce or smaller portions, these could ring true with consumers because of their nutritional basis and authenticity.