Xtreme Eating 2013

     I enjoy eating someone else's cooking on occasion.  It's nice to have a good meal at a place where no prep work or clean up is required on my part.  But eating healthy can be quite a challenge, especially in January when the extra holiday poundage needs to be shed.  Unfortunately most franchise (read: chain restaurant) establishments don't care if customers are trying to shape up.  The goal of places like IHOP, Cheesecake Factory, Chili's, Johnny Rockets, and Uno Chicago Grill is to boost the bottom line.  And to do so they offer up meals that include things like a 2,000 calorie order of mac 'n cheese, a 1 pound slice of chocolate cake and a milkshake that contains a slice of apple pie.

     The January/February issue of Nutrition Action Newsletter cites IHOP as a good example of a bad example.  Their mantra is, "It's all about flavor.  Not about limits."  Their Country Fried Steak & Eggs breakfast is Exhibit A.  In the IHOP website they proclaim, "When it comes to breakfast, why choose just one thing?  Our breakfast combos put your favorites together on one plate, so you can dig into everything you love - from eggs to steaks to pancakes!"  

     Let's consider what goes into that meal: 8 oz. fried beef steak smothered with country gravy, served with two eggs, hash browns and two buttermilk pancakes.  Yep, a mix of fried red meat, fried eggs, fried potatoes (picking up a trend?), and a load of refined carbs all in one meal.  The meal really does have it all -- all the calories (1,760-almost a day's worth), all the saturated fat (23 grams-a full daily quota), all the sodium (3,720 mg-2 1/2 days worth), and all the sugar (11 tsp-almost enough for two days), considering that you pour on a typical quarter cup of syrup.  All that is equivalent to eating 5 McDonald's Egg McMuffins sprinkled with 10 packets of sugar.

     Perhaps the Cheesecake Factory's Crispy Chicken Costoletta would be a better choice.  The lightly breaded chicken breast comes with mashed potatoes (not fries) and fresh asparagus.  Well, surprise!  That seemingly healthy meal packs 2,610 calories, 89 grams of saturated fat (enough for a full work week), and 2,720 mg of sodium.  In fact, the dish has more calories than any steak, chop, or burger on the menu.  It's like downing an entire KFC 12 piece Original Recipe bucket, except with less than half the saturated fat.

     Gee, on second thought, maybe I'll stay at home and wash my own dishes...