Olive Garden’s Herb Grilled Salmon: A Closer Look at the Calories and Nutrition

Salmon is renowned as a healthy, protein-packed fish that’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Olive Garden puts their signature Italian spin on salmon with their popular Herb Grilled Salmon entree. But how many calories and nutrients are truly packed into this restaurant dish? Let’s break down the nutrition facts of Olive Garden’s take on grilled salmon.

Overview of Olive Garden’s Herb Grilled Salmon

This menu item features a fresh Atlantic salmon fillet that’s grilled and topped with Olive Garden’s homemade Italian herb seasoning, The salmon is served with Parmesan risotto and broccoli on the side

The dish provides a lighter, healthier alternative to heavier pasta entrees at the popular Italian chain restaurant It gives salmon, a nutrition superstar, center stage instead of just using it as part of a pasta seafood combo.

Olive Garden’s herb grilled salmon meal stands out for its convenience as a restaurant-prepared fish dinner with veggies and risotto as ready-to-eat sides The flavor pairing of tender salmon with Italian seasoning is also a culinary delight,

Nutrition Profile of Olive Garden’s Grilled Salmon

Here are some basic nutritional facts about a serving of Herb Grilled Salmon from Olive Garden:

• Calories: 460
• Fat: 29g
• Carbs: 9g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 45g

Now let’s analyze what these numbers mean:

High in Protein

This salmon on the grill has 45g of complete, filling protein, which is almost all of an adult’s daily protein needs in one meal. Salmon naturally contains more protein than most other fish.

Lower in Fat

Although there are 29 grams of fat, it’s important to know that most of them are heart-healthy unsaturated fats like omega-3s. This has a lot less fat than many of Olive Garden’s fried foods or pastas with cream.

Low Carb for a Restaurant Meal

At only 9g net carbs including the risotto, this entree is lower carb than most restaurant menu options, providing a nice break from pasta. Round out with broccoli for added fiber.

Provides Valuable Nutrients

Beyond protein, you gain calcium from cheese, antioxidants like vitamin C from broccoli, and key minerals like selenium and potassium from the salmon.

So Olive Garden’s grilled salmon optimizes nutrition by emphasizing protein, healthy fats, and vegetables instead of heavy carbs. Pretty balanced for a restaurant meal!

Calorie Content of Olive Garden’s Salmon Dish

The full Herb Grilled Salmon entree at Olive Garden contains approximately 460 calories. Here is how those calories break down:

• 29% of calories from fat
• 8% of calories from carbs
• 63% of calories from protein

With nearly two-thirds of calories coming from satisfying protein, this meal provides more nutrition bang for your buck calorie-wise. It’s a healthier ratio compared to dishes heavy in carbs or fats.

To put the calorie count in perspective, here are typical calorie counts for other Olive Garden menu items:

• Herb-Grilled Chicken – 480 calories
• Shrimp Alfredo Pasta – 720 calories
• Cheese Ravioli – 500 calories
• Chicken Parmesan – 850 calories
• Baked Ziti – 580 calories

So the herb grilled salmon is on the lower end calorie-wise for Olive Garden entrees, since fish, veggies and risotto are less caloric than cheese, cream and breading-heavy dishes.

Tips for Enjoying This Salmon Meal as Part of a Healthy Diet

Here are some recommendations for making the most nutritious choices when dining on Olive Garden’s grilled salmon:

• Request the sauce on the side and use sparingly, as it adds fat and sodium.

• Opt for water with lemon rather than soft drinks, juices, or alcohol that pile on more carbs and calories.

• Avoid free breadsticks or salad drenching in dressing which detract from the meal’s nutrition profile.

• Take half the risotto portion home for leftovers to reduce refined carbs in one sitting.

• Add a side salad as your veggie choice in place of the standard broccoli for more well-rounded nutrition.

• Limit it to an occasional menu indulgence rather than a weekly habit to keep your overall diet balanced.

Olive Garden’s Herb Grilled Salmon does its job of bringing reasonably healthy Italian-inspired salmon to the masses. Take advantage by customizing your accompaniments to amplify nutrition and portion control.