| Americans get a third of their daily calories, and | | | | sodium. |
| spend half of their food dollars on eating out, | | | | - The Cheesecake Factory Chicken and Biscuits is |
| which can be a problem when you consider that | | | | anything but comfort food though it centers |
| calories in restaurant food are often higher than | | | | around a potentially healthy chicken breast. The |
| expected. To try and tempt customers into | | | | trouble comes from the mashed potatoes, |
| continuing this behavior in the face of a struggling | | | | shortcake biscuits, mushrooms, peas and carrots |
| economy, restaurants appear to be offering | | | | covered in rich gravy that bring the calorie count |
| ever-larger servings of saturated fat, calorie and | | | | to an uncomfortable 2,500. |
| salt laden foods. | | | | - The Cheesecake Factory Philly Style Flat Iron |
| In fact, the typical restaurant appetizer, meal and | | | | Steak with Fries adds cheese to a substantial |
| desert have about 1,000 calories each. More than | | | | portion of charbroiled red meat and includes fries |
| you thought, isn't it? | | | | for 2,320 calories, 47 grams saturated fat |
| And since it's almost unheard of for a restaurant | | | | (2½ days worth) and 5,340 milligrams |
| to provide nutrient information when you're | | | | sodium (3 days worth). |
| ordering, most of us get more salt, fat and | | | | - Uno Chicago Grill's Mega-Sized Deep Dish Sundae |
| calories than we think from that dinner out. | | | | is a dessert that starts with a monster chocolate |
| To help inform diners, the Center for Science in | | | | chip cookie, adds ice cream, whipped cream and |
| the Public Interest (CSPI) has come up with a list | | | | drizzled chocolate sauce to create a sweet treat |
| of the worst restaurant meals in terms of calorie | | | | with 2,800 calories and 72 grams saturated fat. |
| content, fat and salt. | | | | The Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) Act, a |
| The group's Xtreme Eating 2009 dishes, appearing | | | | menu labeling measure just introduced to |
| in the June issue of its Nutrition Action | | | | Congress In May 2009, has the strong support of |
| Healthletter, include: | | | | the Center for Science in the Public Interest and a |
| - Applebee's Quesadilla Burger with Fries, a bacon | | | | chance of being passed in the near future. |
| cheeseburger wrapped inside a quesadilla that | | | | The measure calls for fast-food and chain |
| packs 1,820 calories, 46 grams of saturated fat | | | | restaurants (places with over 20 locations) to |
| and 4,410 milligrams sodium. You can add to | | | | show nutrient information on menus and display |
| these totals by topping your fries with chili and | | | | tags that should include the number of calories, |
| more cheese. | | | | levels of saturated plus trans fat, carbohydrates |
| - Chili's Big Mouth Bites serves up four mini (not all | | | | and sodium. |
| that small really) bacon cheeseburgers, fries and | | | | The National Restaurant Association points out |
| fried onion strings with jalapeno ranch dipping | | | | that there are more healthy options on menus |
| sauce to deliver 2,350 calories, 38 grams | | | | today than ever before. They also contend that |
| saturated fat, 3,940 milligrams sodium. | | | | portions sizes, rather than rising, are getting |
| - Chili's Original Half Rack of Baby Back Ribs adds | | | | smaller, as a measure of the slowing economy. |
| 490 calories, 12 grams saturated fat and 2,050 | | | | While not fundamentally opposed to the idea of |
| milligrams sodium to any entree. Think of this as | | | | offering nutritional information, the organization is |
| adding a Quarter Pounder with Cheese to your | | | | backing a measure that would allow the details on |
| meal. | | | | calories, salt and fats to be shown in other places |
| - Olive Garden Tour of Italy brings together | | | | like a brochure or poster. |
| Homemade Lasagna, Lightly Breaded Chicken | | | | If you want to help yourself eat better when |
| Parmigiana and Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo to | | | | enjoying a dinner out, you can: |
| create a trifecta of a meal with 1,450 calories, 33 | | | | 1. Check the nutritional information of menu |
| grams saturated fat and 3,830 milligrams sodium. | | | | options online before you get to the restaurant. |
| - Red Lobster Ultimate Fondue includes shrimp and | | | | 2. Ask for healthy cooking alternatives, like baked |
| crabmeat covered in a lobster cheese sauce | | | | or grilled; substitute a veggie for a side dish, or |
| served in a warm, crispy sourdough bread bowl | | | | choose one of multiple non-healthy toppings |
| to bring you 1,490 calories, 40 grams saturated | | | | instead of indulging in all of them. |
| fat, 3,580 milligrams sodium. | | | | 3. Cut your portion size in half by ordering a lunch |
| - The Cheesecake Factory Fried Macaroni and | | | | size or half portion to reduce the impact of |
| Cheese delivers four deep fried cheese and white | | | | calories in restaurant food, or take half of your |
| flour balls over creamy marinara sauce and | | | | meal off the plate before you start eating, and |
| supplies 1,570 calories, 69 grams saturated fat | | | | put it into a "to go" container to save and enjoy |
| (3½ days worth) as well as1,860 milligrams | | | | later on. |