A new study was just released showing restaurants, which bill themselves as healthy, might actually make you fatter. The study was conducted by New York's Cornell University. It found people who opted for the 'healthier' restaurant (like a Subway).. over fast food (think McDonald's & Wendy's).. often treated themselves to higher calorie side dishes, drinks, or desserts.
Guilty.. I've done it a thousands times.. and will likely continue to do so, because in my mind, I'm still eating healthier. But what surprised me.. is researchers in the study found when people chose those additional side items.. they contained up to 131% more calories compared to the persons meal at a fast food chain. Ouch.. that smarts. But it begs the question.. Should you just go for the fatty fast food burger? Or get the fast food salad, cookies, and extra calories?
In making your decision consider this.. Researchers say people under estimated their caloric consumption in the study by about 159 calories. They say an extra 3500 calories equals a pound of fat. By that calculation researchers say the 159 extra calories equal about five pounds a year. So I'll stick with my salad's (they are better for you) and maybe have to ration my cookie intake. Or up my running..