So, I guess life is becoming more like Burger King now...
So, I've recently heard that the Cheesecake Factory (not sure if it's just the one in Chicago or the chain in general...do they even have restaurants in places other than Chicago?) is supposed to be coming up with a new, separate menu for folks trying to watch their weight. Honestly, when I first heard that on the news, I was feeling somewhere between amused at the idea of a place called the Cheesecake Factory trying to come up with a diet-friendly menu, and a bit irritated at them jumping on the bandwagon of "let's toss in healthy stuff, even if it doesn't necessarily fit with our image!"
Now, I'm not saying that this is a bad thing per say. I mean, one of the ways you bring in a larger crowd is by having something for everyone. Plus, if your friends all wanna go out to dinner there sometime, but you have health issues/dietary requirements, you won't have to sit back and watch everyone else have a good time. I understand that adding on healthy options or an entire "diet-friendly" menu can be a smart, sometimes necessary move. I guess what tripped me off initially was the fact that we're talking about place named after one of the most fattening desserts ever made coming up with low-guilt food options for their lineup. It's kinda like the whole thing with McDonald's adding on healthier stuff to their menu, despite the fact that their a fast food chain, and the last time I checked, fast food wasn't supposed to be all that high in quality in the first place (that's why they call it fast food). I think I might have reacted to McDonald's a little less, since it's likely to be a "last-resort" for people or families living on a strict budget, and they need to be able to at least pretend like they aren't slowly killing themselves from the junk they have to eat.
The Cheesecake Factory, on the other hand, isn't exactly cheap dining. The one time I went, I spent a bit over $30 (though to be fair, I believe that included dessert, and the portions were very nice). That may or may not be a lot for a meal, but it can sure add up over time, especially if you don't have that kind of money in the first place. Thus, most folks with an average income probably won't be going there all that often anyway. Which brings me to my next point: if you're not going there very often, then the few times you do go there, I'm sure you can afford to splurge when it comes to calories. Now, I know some might shake their heads, but I feel this way: if I'm behaving and eating the foods I should in the portions I should the majority of the time, surely I should be allowed a reward every now and then, right? Well, that's what places like the Cheesecake Factory are for (for me, anyways). If I go to a place that serves food like they do, I'm not going just to keep dieting, I'm going to take a break from it! Yeah, the food's probably loaded with calories and fat and all that other God-awful stuff that tastes delicious, but I'm thinking that between then and the next time I go there, I'll have burned off all those bad calories, and then some (assuming I actually move around and don't keep overindulging). Now, like I said, if you've got problems then you need all the help you can get, so the healthy menu is just right for you. But for people who are just on a diet, there's no need to be so rigid (unless self-control is that much of a problem, which it can be for a variety of reasons).
Alright, by now I've gotten over the whole thing. I never really had an issue with it to begin with. It was just something that kinda nagged at me a bit. Honestly, as long the Cheesecake Factory keeps their portions nice and decent and doesn't completely cut out all the good stuff (especially not their desserts), they can do whatever they want. And if they change too much, well, there are plenty of other great places around Chicago to dine at.