One of my favorite sections of health and fitness magazines is the column showing the caloric content of a restaurant meal versus a home-cooked one.Food cooked in restaurants is significantly higher in calories than food cooked at home. According to the Chili’s nutritional guide, their smoked turkey sandwich with fries has 1,240 calories.

A turkey sandwich made at home with some homemade fries would only be around 600 calories depending on portion size. The preservative-ridden and highly processed food at restaurants offers the convenience of not having to cook but puts your health at risk.

Taking in 1,000 calories or more at a meal puts you at risk for heart disease, obesity and many more health issues.

The 1,240 turkey sandwich at Chili’s is one meal, yet for me, it’s almost my entire daily recommendation for calories.

Often, we eat more calories than we intend to because we are used to making healthier food at home. It’s important to look at restaurant nutritional guides. Cook at home. Save calories and money.

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