By: Tanya Jolliffe, SparkPeople Blogger
2/4/2010 6:00 AM   :  104 comments   :  16,828 Views

See More: chain restaurants, healthy eating, Diet Friendly Dining,

This French-cottage themed restaurant first opened in 1978 as a comfortable place to relax and enjoy a freshly prepared meal. The Simms family started the Café in Anaheim, California and introduced a new combination of ambience and service with convenience and value.

Today you can find Mimi's Cafés operating in 22 states across the U.S. and you will still find warm hospitality and delicious fresh cooked meals. My family recently enjoyed a wonderful lunch at a Mimi's in our community and their menu really caught my eye. I thought it would be helpful to review the healthier menu items as part of our ongoing Diet Friendly Dining series.

The varied Fit and Fresh menu can allow you enjoy an evening away from home while also keeping a meal intake under 500 calories and 15-20 grams of fat or less.

Fit and Fresh Breakfast Items – served until noon

Mimi's Tasty Protein Breakfast – Four scrambled egg whites with an 8 oz broiled ground turkey patty served with sliced tomatoes and orange juice

Calories – 520

Fat – 16 grams

Sodium – 583 mg

Carbohydrates – 29 grams

Fiber – 3 grams

Protein – 59 grams

Two "AA" Large Eggs – Served with sliced tomatoes, bacon and orange juice

Calories – 332

Fat – 16 grams

Sodium – 622 mg

Carbohydrates – 28 grams

Fiber – 3 grams

Protein – 20 grams

Low-Fat Fitness Omelette – Eggs whites, fresh mushrooms, broccoli and diced tomatoes served with sliced tomatoes and orange juice

Calories – 506

Fat – 10 grams

Sodium – 838 mg

Carbohydrates – 78 grams

Fiber – 10 grams

Protein – 30 grams

Old Fashioned Buckeye Oatmeal

Calories – 214

Fat – 18 grams

Sodium – 246 mg

Carbohydrates – 47 grams

Fiber – 8 grams

Protein – 7 grams

Side of Fresh Fruit

Calories – 214

Fat – 2 grams

Sodium – 246 mg

Carbohydrates – 47 grams

Fiber – 8 grams

Protein – 7 grams



Fresh and Fit Lunch & Dinner Menu Items

Mimi's Chopped Cobb Salad – Turkey, bacon, avocado, green onions, egg, tomatoes and crumbled bleu cheese with fat-free balsamic vinaigrette

Calories – 399

Fat – 22 grams (some of which are healthy fats from the avocado)

Sodium – 848 mg

Carbohydrates – 30 grams

Fiber – 3 grams

Protein – 19 grams

Chicken, Fruit and Baby Greens Salad – Broiled chicken served on baby greens, dried cranberries, feta cheese, tomatoes and fruit tossed in fat-free balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Calories – 425

Fat – 7 grams

Sodium – 633 mg

Carbohydrates – 52 grams

Fiber – 5 grams

Protein – 40 grams

Half a Fresh Roasted Turkey Breast Sandwich – Turkey Breast on whole wheat bread served dry (no mayo) served with fresh fruit

Calories – 336

Fat – 9 grams

Sodium – 330 mg

Carbohydrates – 42 grams

Fiber – 5 grams

Protein – 14 grams

Veggies Burger – Served with a side of fresh fruit

Calories – 396

Fat – 6 grams

Sodium – 1060 mg

Carbohydrates – 72 grams

Fiber – 8 grams

Protein – 14 grams

Just Enough Petite Citrus Salmon – Grilled salmon served with baby spring greens and strawberries and tossed in fat-free balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Calories – 365

Fat – 15 grams

Sodium – 292 mg

Carbohydrates – 26 grams

Fiber – 5 grams

Protein – 22 grams

Just Enough Sweet and Sour Chicken – Flame broiled chicken breast and stir-fried vegetables, glazed with ginger sweet and sour sauce served over jasmine rice

Calories – 555

Fat – 19 grams

Sodium – 209 mg

Carbohydrates – 68 grams

Fiber – 7 grams

Protein – 31 grams

Slow Roasted Turkey Breast – Turkey Breast served with orange relish, jasmine rice and steamed vegetables

Calories – 610

Fat – 13 grams

Sodium – 138 mg

Carbohydrates – 76 grams

Fiber – 4 grams

Protein – 21 grams



Petite Treats

Chocolate Mousse with fresh strawberries and strawberry puree'

Calories - 131

Fat – 8 grams

Sodium – 11 grams

Carbohydrates – 13 grams

Fiber – 1 grams

Protein – 1 gram

Lemon Mousse with blueberries and strawberry puree'

Calories – 114

Fat – 6 grams

Sodium – 31 mg

Carbohydrates – 13 grams

Fiber – 1 grams

Protein – 1 gram

Raspberry Mousse with whipped cream

Calories – 123

Fat – 10 grams

Sodium – 13 mg

Carbohydrates – 7 grams

Fiber – 0 grams

Protein – 0 grams

Mimi's Fresh and Fit menu provides some of the best nutrient rich and calorie, fat and sodium conscious menu choices I have seen. This restaurant allows you to select a nutrient wise option while friends and family can select from other less nutrition conscious but equally delicious options. This restaurant tops my list of places you definitely want to check out.

Have you eaten at Mimi's Café? Where you aware of the Fresh and Fit menu items? What do you think of the menu items?