The Top 5 Restaurants that Could Ruin Your Diet

So you've adhered to your diet regimen with an unwavering confidence, generously telling loved ones that no, you can't have that slice of pie--you're on a diet. You've probably slopped cans of tuna onto your salad more times than you can say Supersize Me. Now that you're proud and slim, you can't possibly imagine indulging in fattening foods that once made you overweight. But everyone has to celebrate, right? You're probably planning on visiting a restaurant right now. What good is succeeding if you don't celebrate it? And there's nothing wrong with celebrating your successes at a restaurant, provided you choose the right restaurant.

But many don't know that choosing the wrong restaurant could ruin your diet. I also bet you don't know that so called "healthy" restaurants aren't healthy at all. The fact is most restaurants easily load 2,000 to 3,000 calories into you in a single sitting, and if you're not careful to choose the right restaurant, you can kiss your diet goodbye. Don't sabotage your diet to celebrate. Instead, let's explore the top 5 restaurants that could ruin your diet. Avoid these if you want to stay on track.

Top 5 Restaurants That Could Ruin Your Diet
5. Outback Steakhouse. Now brace yourself--the appetizers here will ruin your diet, not the entrees. Their appetizers are so fattening that it even got a spot in Men's Health Magazine for its high caloric content. The biggest appetizer that will sabotage your diet? Outback Steakhouse's famous Aussie Fries. It may not look fattening, but it contains a whopping 2,900 calories and 182 grams of fat. Yikes! Try to avoid this restaurant if you can. This restaurant will turn you into a blimp before you even get your entree!

4. Chipotle. It looks healthy, but is it really? Although you are in control of how it is prepared, many of the items are loaded with fat and calories. Your only safe bet here is to stick with diced vegetables and natural spices, but even that may be too high in calories. Be warned, dieters: Chipotle claims to be a healthy restaurant, but this does not mean it is low calorie. This restaurant will subtly ruin your diet, one condiment at a time.

3. Ruby Tuesday. This restaurant also markets itself as healthy with its variety of turkey and vegetarian friendly burgers, claiming to be lean and delicious. While it is delicious, nearly all of its burgers are well over 1,000 calories, easily teetering you into a tighter pant size. The healthiest dish in this restaurant is, surprisingly enough, their steak entrees. If you don't want to ruin you diet, consider ordering a slab of steak and a small salad.

2. Chili's. Chili's Restaurant favors breading, cheese, and dense sauces over sensible cooking, and the results will show on your waistline. Sinful selections: Texas Cheese Fries and Buffalo Chicken Fajitas. Nearly all dishes are served with fattening sauces, so expect your meal to topple 2,000 calories. Their desserts are even worse--expect to devour 1,590 calories from their famous Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie. Chili's is not your best bet if you want to stick to your diet, period.

1. Any Chinese Restaurant. Any Chinese American restaurant, that is. Traditional Chinese restaurants are noticeably less fattening and greasy, but you won't find anything traditional in Americanized restaurants. Sweet sauces, splattering of oils, and food drenched in caloric condiments makes this the top restaurant that will ruin your diet. If you must eat here, make sure to request a healthy stir fry instead of General Tso's or Kung Pao. Although you could go over 1,000 calories, stir fry is still healthier than other choices.

Ready to pig out? While it is important to enjoy yourself, making sensible choices will kick you in the right direction. Make sure to choose your restaurant wisely to avoid these calorie busters. Avoid these restaurants if you can--it could ruin your diet.

Sources
Men's Health Magazine, "The 20 Worst Foods in America" by Matt Goulding
Center for Science in the Public Interest, "Food Porn Alert: Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie" by Unknown Author