Worst of the Mega-Calorie Meals

Fast-food restaurants are usually the main eating establishments that dieters try to avoid. Unfortunately, as the N.Y. Daily News reports, the worst of the mega-calorie meals are found at the "family restaurant" level:

A new report finds you'll really pack on the pounds if you're a regular at popular chains like T.G.I. Friday's, Chili's, Applebee's and The Cheesecake Factory. Heaping portions, deep-fried dishes and appetizers the size of entrées are the culprits, say the folks in Washington who put out the Nutrition Action Healthletter. You're essentially looking at 2,000-calorie meals, which is what most people should have in an entire day," said registered dietitian Jayne Hurley, who wrote the belt-loosening report.

The Cheesecake Factory's fried macaroni and cheese is a particularly hefty example. At 1,570 calories and 69 grams of saturated fat, "you'd be better off eating an entire stick of butter," she said.

And that's hardly the worst. Consider this dessert at the pizza-centered chain known as Uno Chicago Grill -- Mega-Sized Deep Dish Sundae: 2,800 calories. That's more calories than the average adult is supposed to consume in an entire day.