How Many Calories ... in a Chicken Souvlaki Pita?

When I headed off to Greece a few years ago, I was excited for all the healthy eating I would do. After all, the Mediterranean way of eating has even inspired one of the most successful diet plans out there, so eating well there should be no problem, right? An added bonus? Mediterranean food is delicious -- souvlaki, pita bread, tzatziki, baklava ... I love it all.

But by the time I came back, my pants were a little tighter. OK, a lot tighter. Where did I go wrong? I ate lots of healthy stuff. Maybe Mediterranean food is not as healthy as we imagine?

The answer is 594 calories with 20 g of fat in a Chicken Souvlaki Pita from the Pita Pit. That's not too bad, but I think it's a conservative estimate considering the pitas I ate in Greece came with French fries inside them. And my shrinking pants are a testament to that.

Still, Souvlaki is a healthy meal, but skip the fast food version and make your own at home. Marinate your meat in fresh spices, make your own low-fat Tzatziki and top with lots of fresh veggies and just a little bit of fresh feta cheese.