Valley dietitian says extreme dishes should be rare treats
Aug 2, 2017, 4:37 AM | Updated: 9:19 am
(Chili's Photo)
PHOENIX — I know you’ve seen those massive dishes around town, but a Valley dietitian said those should be regarded as rare treats, not everyday staples.
“These are stunt foods, not meant to be part of the regular everyday healthy diet,” Jessica Lehmann said. “I think they’re just designed to catch attention, you know, they’re publicity stunts.”
Lehmann spoke just days after the Center for Science in the Public Interest introduced its annual review of some of the most unhealthy dishes at nationwide chain restaurants.
Lehmann said the calorie-, fat-, sodium- or all-of-the-above-packed dishes were best enjoyed with friends and a healthy side.
“If you really want to try something, then grab 10 of your friends and literally split one of these in like 10 pieces and then order a salad on the side,” she said.
She said the dishes add a lot of empty calories to a diet and that may cause metabolic issues.
“They call it skinny-fat,” she said. “It’s that type of fat around your liver, kidneys, your abdomen, you intestines that actually contribute to the development of metabolic problems.”
But that doesn’t mean that 11-layer chocolate cake should be left completely alone. Lehmann said dishes like that have a place — albeit not a large one — in most people’s diets.
“Mostly you want to have about 80 percent good nutrient-dense foods, she said. “Then, you know, 20 percent of your diet really should be fun. You know, just make it a onetime thing, every once in a while.”
You can check out the center’s worst caloric offenders of this year below.