Second Nature logo

US

Restaurants

The healthiest options at Zizzi

Megan Widdows
Written by

Megan Widdows

Medically reviewed by

Fiona Moncrieff

3 min read
Last updated October 2024
Share
FacebookTwitter
title

Eating out at restaurants is an enjoyable social experience that you shouldn’t have to miss out on for the sake of your health journey. Many people worry that going to restaurants always means overindulging, however, it is possible to eat healthily when eating out.

Zizzi is a popular italian restaurant that serves a wide range of dishes from pizza and pasta, to meats and salads. With so many options on the menu, it can be tricky to know what to choose, especially if you’re trying to stick to your healthy lifestyle.

Eating out is often a much anticipated treat, especially after a year in lockdown. It’s perfectly ok to choose a more indulgent option, such as pizza, if you want to. The important thing is that this isn’t a frequent indulgence, and you focus on finding the motivation to get back to your healthy habits afterwards.

Science suggests that a reduced carbohydrate diet is the most effective diet for weight loss. Lower-carb diets are particularly effective for those who struggle with blood glucose control (e.g. people with type 2 diabetes). On top of this, eating plenty of non-starchy vegetables (e.g. broccoli or peppers), protein (e.g. meat or fish), and healthy fats (e.g. olive oil or nuts) has many health benefits.

To save you time and stress, the registered nutritionists here at Second Nature have gone through the menu and nutritional information of this popular chain and picked out some options that generally fit the bill of lower-carb balanced meals. Vegetarian options are marked with a (v).

Medication-assisted weight loss with a future focus

Start with Wegovy or Mounjaro, transition to habit-based health with our support

Mounjaro pen
Wegovy pen

Order without adjustments

These options can be ordered as-is and enjoyed as part of a healthy diet. 

Starters

  • Mixed olives (v)
  • Pork and wild boar polpette
  • Kale and broccoli side (v)

Mains

  • Chicken and prosciutto salad 
  • Pork and wild boar poplette

Order with a few adjustments

These options can be slightly adjusted to be healthier:

Starters

  • Garlic king prawns

Swap the toasted focaccia for a side salad to enjoy as a carb-free starter

Mains

  • Chicken thigh calabrese

Be mindful of the portion size of potato, or swap for a side salad to keep the meal low in carbs

  • Pan-seared salmon salad

Be mindful of the portion size of potato, or swap for a side salad to keep the meal low in carbs

  • Super zucca salad (v) 

Swap the bread for extra salad or the kale and broccoli side

Enjoy occasionally 

These are more indulgent options that can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet, just less often:

Starters

  • Garlic bread (v)
  • Bruschetta (v)
  • Calamari
  • Mushroom brindisi (v)
  • Fundo formaggi

Mains

  • Any pasta dish
  • Any pizza fish

Desserts

If you fancy a dessert, it is completely fine to enjoy one occasionally. Consider sharing one with your company or, if you do choose to indulge, enjoy mindfully! 

When eating out, it’s important to be mindful of your portion size and check in with your hunger cues. Restaurant portions are often much larger than we would eat at home so don’t feel pressured to eat everything. You can always take leftovers home in a doggy bag for lunch or dinner the following day. Consider sharing a pizza or pasta dish with family or friends and bulk out your meal with a side salad. 

Take home message

  • Eating at restaurants such as Zizzi are often special occasions, so if you want to indulge, enjoy your food mindfully and guilt free
  • If you do want to choose a healthy meal, there are a number of lower carb options you can choose from 
  • Lower carb diets have been shown to be the most effective for weight loss
  • Don’t be afraid to get creative and pick and choose from starters and sides on the menu.

Medication-assisted weight loss with a future focus

Start with Wegovy or Mounjaro, transition to habit-based health with our support

Mounjaro pen
Wegovy pen
Meal Plan

Download our free, indulgent 7-day meal plan

It includes expert advice from our team of registered dietitians to make losing weight feel easier. Subscribe to our newsletter to get access today.

I've read and agreed to the Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.

You might also like

Make losing weight feel Second Nature

The first step on your Second Nature journey is to take our health quiz.

Hand holding phone

Write a response

As seen on

The GuardianThe TimesChannel 4The Sunday Telegraph
Evening Standard
Metro