Giveaway: IHOP Simple & Fit

One of the really hard parts about trying to be healthy is going out to eat, which, let's be honest, happens.  We're in the middle of football season and hockey will start on the 15th, as well as scouts picking back up.  Everyone's busy, and sometimes, even though you plan, you end up having nothing made for dinner! Or, maybe you're meeting friends or family for a special meal together.  Whatever happens, you have to be able to eat out without completely ruining your diet.

(PS- I think I'm supposed to tell you to use IHOP for Breakfast, but in our family we believe that breakfast is an excellent dinner!!)

IHOP has had a "Simple & Fit" menu for a few years now, which helps patrons to select options from their menu with under 600 calories.  At a restaurant with bacon and home fries on the menu, that's a pretty significant reduction! Starting this month, though, IHOP has added several new items including whole wheat waffles with blueberries, whole wheat pancakes with blueberries, and several new types of oatmeal, which is one of my favorite breakfasts when the morning starts turning cool! There are also whole wheat crepes and whole wheat french toast on the new menu, and everything comes with a lemon wedge instead of butter, which is really pretty genius since it gives you a little burst of flavor without tons of fat.

On the Simple & Fit menu, you can still find the traditional "pancakes/meat/eggs" that most of us associate IHOP with, but they've altered it to fit a more moderate lifestyle, using egg substitute and turkey bacon.  I didn't get to try the egg substitute on our visit, but I know from my Max Muscle plan that scrambled egg whites are really good, especially with a little hot sauce, so I'd imagine the same is true for egg substitute, especially since I didn't get to try it because my kids ate it (they shared the whole wheat blueberry pancakes) albeit with ketchup, although they require tomato product, whether it's salsa or ketchup, on any type of eggs they eat.  My third child ordered off the children's menu, which only lists options under 600 calories, and includes an option to make your own smiley face with yogurt, so you know that had to happen.

The new oatmeal comes in great flavors like Banana and Brown Sugar and Super Fruit (dried blueberries, dark cherries, cranberries, raisins, golden raisins, and you can also get almonds and walnuts).  I opted for the Super Fruit the morning that we went and it was really tasty.  I love dried fruit, so having it come portioned for me is important or I'll eat it all! I thought that the oatmeal was fantastic and it gave me that happy, warm, comforting feeling oatmeal always does. :)

Bad news- my images are apparently all corrupted...soooo, here's some pictures from another blogger!

http://www.momfiles.com/

And another one...

The Mom Reviews

Here in P-dubya-C (that's Prince William County) we have several IHOP options:

13718 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge

3914 Fettler Park Drive, Dumfries

8785 Centreville Road, Manassas (actual Manassas)

12901 Galveston Court, Manassas (Manassas where it's still really Woodbridge) 

Want to go check out the new menu yourself? I've got a $50 gift card to your favorite IHOP store! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest closes on the 19th, note that as always, I'm not responsible for lost or stolen cards or for your personal experience, although we have always has a pretty quick and tasty time at IHOP ourselves.
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PwcMoms was provided with a gift card to conduct our review of the new menu, however all opinions expressed here are my own.