Xtreme Eating 2009: Step Away from the Chili's Sliders

It's a given that when you order a dessert called the Mega-Sized Deep Dish Sundae, it's not exactly healthy fare. But you still might be shocked at how many calories that bad boy from the Uno Chicago Grill menu packs: 2,800 (!!!), not to mention 72 grams of saturated fat. Watchdog group the Center for Science in the Public Interest has blown the whistle on what they call "Xtreme Eating," a name for the outrageous dishes chains conjure up every summer to entice people to eat out. And many seem intentionally misleading.

Insiders' Guide: How to make a healthy order from a menu.

For example, Chili's' new sliders and fries, called "Big Mouth Bites," seem innocuous compared to a huge platter of say, Baby Back Ribs. The meal is loaded with an insane-sounding 2,350 calories, however, 38 fat grams and, wait for it: 3,940 milligrams of sodium. (U.S. dietary guidelines call for us to get less than 2,300 a day.) Hey, we're all about indulging now and then, which is why we created The Cheater's Diet. But depending on where you dine, this Xtreme Eating 2009 list will either make you laugh or cry.

Watch this video on tips for sticking to your diet while dining out!

-- Erin Flaherty

image via David Cook

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