Gushing Over IHOP’s Fruit Medley

Spring is in the air, and I’m not talking hopping bunnies or the delicious scent of tropical flowers intoxicating the sidewalks. I’m talking about the bountiful yield of perfectly ripe fruit in my Fruit Bowl ($7.30) at IHOP on Kuhio Avenue. It’s a voluptuous, eye-catching medley of juicy orange, red and yellow hunks — cantaloupe, water-melon, pineapple, red grapes — each mouthful gushing with flavor.

“The fruit is seasonal,” says general manager David Bagood. “We tend to switch between watermelon and honeydew.”

Though stacks of pancakes on neighboring plates catch my eye, I’m on a hunt for menu items IHOP offers that are meatless, fish-less and eggless. The treats I find also happen to be among the restaurant’s “SIMPLE & FIT” selection, which features dishes that are under 600 calories.

I notice Bagood’s not cringing at my finicky request for ingredient checks on various dishes. He says he eats just about everything, but when he has no qualms admitting he’s enjoyed eating vegan food, I feel immediately at ease.

Next comes the House Salad ($4.85): just what you’d expect, with chunks of iceberg lettuce, slices of tomato and onion, topped with croutons and reduced-fat Italian dressing. Bagood notes that customers generally order the salad or the fruit bowl with an entree. But I’m at the pleasantly satisfied stage and I even opt to take half of the fruit salad to-go. The best part is that between the fruit (130 calories) and the salad (50), I’ve enjoyed a filling meal with no guilt.

What’s life without a little guilt? I look out the window at vacationers streaming by on this sunny afternoon and then back at the enticing photos on the menu’s drink selection page, and decide to enjoy a little vacation of my own. Out comes an Iced Mocha ($4.25) from the freshly brewed coffee selection, which also offers Vanilla or Original. “It comes with free refills,” points out Bagood. That’s the cherry on my happy spring day!

IHOP Hawaii

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