Where do all the calories in sit-down restaurant meals come from?

Question

Yes, I know most dishes at restaurants are big enough in quantity to fill two meals. I'm not surprised that THEY have high calorie content, based on the size alone. But here I'm referring to the meals that are reasonably sized and look sincerely innocent, but still pack a world of hurt. Where do all of their calories come from, seriously? It's mind-boggling.

Answer 1

portion sizes, oil/butter, breaded and fried, sour cream, fatty meat, etc. A lot of it has to deal with portion sizes, though.

Answer 2

If you are ordering a reasonable sized dinner and it is high in calories then I would surmise that you are having a dinner that is made from high calorie foods such as fried, sauced, meats with butter, sour cream, wine, and high carbohydrates such as pasta, potatoes done with cream & butter and then a rich dessert.  Creamy soups and vegetables also add calories.

Answer 3

The food.  

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Answer 4

they use lots of sodium to preserve it and probably the way they cook it. :D

Answer 5

they also do a alot of cream with heavy sauces and big on desserts...appeizers.

Answer 6

Mainly in preparation and the food itself.  Calorie packed sauces, deep fried foods... A grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies weigh in far less on the calorie counter than the same chicken breast that has been rolled in flour, milk and egg and then deep fried to golden perfection.  The baked potatoe dripping in butter, cheese and bacon are killer, too.  Add bread with butter, regular sugar in your tea or a regular soft drink and you have packed in enough calories for two days.

Answer 7

its all in the way they cook them--they use a lot of oils which are really high in fat and calories.  the fat makes them taste better than a lot of healthier homecooked meals.

Answer 8

Butter. It's a restaurant secret. Seriously. It adds flavor, makes everything taste good - but it's overused - hence, all the calories.