La Madeleine

The challenge at La Madeleine is to avoid the free bread and jam. If you can manage to do this, there are acceptable choices here.

For breakfast try the Spinach, Mushroom and Tomato Omelette – the fat-free and cholesterol-free omelette of spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes. Tell them you don't want the baguette bread that comes with it. This is 290 calories and presumably is made with the yolks.

Order either Chicken or Salmon with the regular size Wild Greens or Spinach Salad - and skip the dressing in either case. There are plenty of fats in the meat or fish already, so no point in adding any. The Wild Greens salad with Salmon is only 260 calories for the regular size, so it would make a great lunch. You might even get the large size (380 calories) or add a fruit salad (60 calories) . This is by far the healthiest entree!

There are some other choices, if you just can't stand to eat another salad and want a conventional dinner:

There is no official calorie count for Chicken la Madeleine – Tender breast of chicken with mushroom sauce, Rice Provençal and Broccoli - but it's likely to be okay. The sides are 240 calories. Perhaps a "container" to take home 1/2 the meal? Or leave 1/2 the rice on the plate.

A splurge meal that won't totally blow your calorie count is Shrimp & Spinach Crêpe - pesto cream sauce with shrimp, tomatoes and spinach wrapped in a light crêpe. My calculations estimate this at 400 calories, but I may be guessing wrong on the contents.

Two meals that are reasonably nutritious, but just way too big for CR are the Herb-Crusted Pork Tenderloin- savory herb-crusted pork tenderloin with a Dijon mustard demi-glaze, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans almondine - and the Beef au Poivre - beef sautéed in a peppercorn sauce with mushrooms and pearl onions, served with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans almondine. Share these with someone or take 1/2 the meal home for tomorrow.