Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I have been making great strides in cutting out any neofood or nonfood from my diet, and recently had to go out to eat at Applebees. I was certain that I made the right choice by getting a simple steak with shrimp and creme sauce with some steamed veggies.

But the veggies (broccoli, etc.) just didnt taste right. I mean they were GOOD, especially with butter on them, but they were too good, they actually tasted sort of sweet...

I suppose that it is possible I am becoming resensitized to dietary sugar to the point where standard steamed vegetables might taste sweet to me, but that seems unusual, and I sure didn't expect to see normal vegetables spike my blood sugar, but they did...

Is Applebees using MSG or some other sort of preservative I should know about?

flag	asked Oct 8 2011 at 6:41 Monkey Scribe 452●1●8

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Yes they do.... – The Quilt Oct 8 2011 at 14:22

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I have made a habit of visiting local restaurants and checking out their posted ingredients. I also ask to see the containers of some items like soups and dressings. All have had MSG (listed or called by its many names) in them. You must be careful. – The Quilt Oct 8 2011 at 22:37

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up voted quilt for a simple fact... ANY chain (my family went to O'Charleys tonight) is suspect. You just never know unless you make it yourself. Heck, the waitress stood there with a straight face and tried to proclaim what was on my broccoli was butter.....(this was the thinnest oiliest looking butter I ever saw then). Later she came back with a little tub of real butter...and looked at me like I was the anti-christ for asking to start with. Normally I just eat the SHIT and chalk it up to 80/20 since I'm in good health, but this experience was enlightening. – JayJay Oct 9 2011 at 3:42

OUtback Steakhouse freely admits that their vegetables (except asparagus) have gluten-containing ingredients. That was a shock. So at a chain restaurant, even broccoli isn't broccoli. – Kelly Mar 30 2012 at 15:17

FED at LiveCaveman.com · Answer 1 · 2011-10-08 14:19:38Z UTC

I would be surprised if a place like Applebee's DIDN'T use MSG in their food.

For economic reasons, many restaurants, including full-service, sit-down restaurants like Applebee's have turned to centralized food distributors such as Sysco.

Sysco sends them their frozen chicken breasts, vegetables, sauces, etc. and the restaurant simply heats them back up.

It's an extension of the private labeling of other food products (i.e. "Happy-O's" in a bag vs. Cheerios in a box).

The obvious downside is that all the foods are prepared in advance and with the primary focus being transportability, stability, and consistency.

As J.Stanton on Gnolls.org wrote recently, "real food is not fungible".

Eric · Answer 2 · 2011-10-08 06:43:10Z UTC

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Likely something in the cream sauce.

answered Oct 8 2011 at 6:43

Eric
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Agreed. One of the biggest things to be wary of eating out is any and all sauces. – ben61820 Oct 8 2011 at 12:58

The Loon · Answer 3 · 2011-10-08 14:33:28Z UTC

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I just assume that everywhere puts msg and sugars in the food unless it is printed somewhere on the menu.

answered Oct 8 2011 at 14:33

The Loon
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	this is precisely why I eat out so rarely. I'm sensitive to MSG no less. – Caleb the Hobbit Oct 8 2011 at 15:47
	yeah this is how i approach most restaurants too. if the food is actually real and without any of the shitty stuff most restaurants put in it, i assure you they'll make a point to tell you whether on the menu or from the waiter/tress – jake Sep 6 at 0:15

Patrick · Answer 4 · 2011-10-08 22:17:15Z UTC

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They do not put MSG on vegetables. I believe your concern may be with the cream sauce.

answered Oct 8 2011 at 22:17

Patrick
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Matt · Answer 5 · 2011-10-08 22:01:43Z UTC

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I'll agree with others - it's likely in there. But the $64k question is: should you care?

answered Oct 8 2011 at 22:01

Matt
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Jennifer · Answer 6 · 2012-03-30 13:02:59Z UTC

I ate at Applebee's last night and had a healthy ?? spinach and grilled shrimp salad. Nice fresh ingredients, but the dressing had an unnaturally strong flavor. I woke up this morning with a headache - must be MSG! As for the $64,000 answer, if you don't know why MSG is bad for you, you have some reading to do.

JB · Answer 7 · 2012-09-05 23:33:00Z UTC

I too am wondering about MSG (or one of the many ingredients that contain MSG) content in the Shrimp and Chicken dish at Applebees. I ate not quite half of the meal and I asked for a box as I started not feeling well. Before we could get home, I had to stop as I so sick with diarrhea to the max! Upon arriving home I called the manager and she advised they threw the box away so she could not tell me. And so far Applebees will not provide me with an answer. Their lawyers are saying it is "propriety" information and they can't tell me. Guess who won't be visiting Applebees anymore. By-the-way...I have not given up on trying to find out what they put in their dish. Anyone have any ideas...I just want to know so I don't get sick again. Gee what is the world coming to when you can't get straight answers anymore.

Does Applebees use MSG or something?

7 Answers