I came across this article at an interesting time because I just watched a show on Oprah that did some food comparisons to see which ones had the most calories. With some foods, it is extremely hard to determine if it will give you a high calorie intake. But with the ones listed in this article, it is pretty obvious that they are chocked full of fat and calories. Just the description of them sounds unhealthy!

But I agree with mjkbk. Do not isolate yourself forever from foods like this. Just limit the amount of times you go out and eat and always calculate your calorie intake and you should be fine. If your avg. calorie intake is not over a certain amount per week (12,000), then you do not have to worry about splurging every once in awhile.

Frank
Ab Rocket

I don't know why people are so surprised when they find out that comfort foods and large portions--essentially what restaurants specialize in--have bunches and bunches of fat and calories. But you don't have to give up eating out altogether, if you eat out less often and make smarter menu selections and requests.

If salmon comes with a butter-based miso sauce, you can still  have your fish and eat it too by ordering sauce on the side. Stay away from heaping helpings of cheese. Stick with leaner meats like chicken breast. Even marinated and slow-roasted red meats (such as barbecue) can be juicy, tender, and low in fat. Shrimp, by themselves, are exceedingly low in fat; just don't order them deep-fried or slathered in melted butter. Skip the fish & chips and get your Omega 3s from grilled or baked seafoods, sauce on the side. Select vinaigrette, not creamy, salad dressings on the side. Yes, dressings are caloric--but the vegetable oils in them are super GOOD for you. Ask what side dishes are available in place of fries, even if it's only some tomato slices. Eggs are the perfect food--more so when they're NOT basted in fat and paired with cheeses, bacon, sausage, and the like. Skip desserts; but it you must indulge, try sorbet or fresh fruit. Thumbs down on alcohol, too--empty calories, and plenty of them. Tea and coffee actually offer health benefits, so consider them. If you drink sodas, choose sugar-free.

But if you just can't bring yourself to MAKE such changes in your dining-out choices--don't blame the restaurant industry.  You KNOW who's responsible.

Hey all, actually i am a dietitian, and i advice people not to eat these stuff, or to minimise the portion; but still can't resist them myself.

This is precisely why I don't eat out much anymore.  Since I started reading articles such as this and have become educated regarding calories at restaurants.  I just don't understand how these places can make a so called healthy item, like salad, into one of those caloric and sodium laden monsters!  We don't cook like that in our homes!

Horrible, since I moved in the States I gained fast 10lbs. Oh and going out and running errands still scares me if I can not come back home too fast, and have my food. So I have to go at a restaurant, usually the almighty Cheesecake Factory to have the grilled salmon with broccoli (supposed to be healthy, but the garlic-lemon sauce I am sure it has butter after the taste). And I saw what other people ordered, I had a shock with huge plates of pasta and fries and all. Oh and my bad craving - the Godiva cheesecake, I stopped eating soon after I found out it has 800kcal a piece. I went once at Chili's, never wanna go back there again! I needed more then 15min to decide what to order to stay more on the "safe" side. Of course it was just half healthy, the rest I left on the plate. And you wonder why people are obese (and I am not talking about obesity in poor countries). Huge plates, junk food, huge burgers for just 50 cents. God forbid if you wanna shop for veggies and lean meats, because it will rip you off money!  It is outrageous!