Eating out at restaurants might not be any healthier than consuming fast food, according to a recent study.
New Study Reveals Surprising Truth About Restaurant Meals and Home-Cooked Food
A recent study conducted by the University of Illinois has shed light on the nutritional differences between meals prepared at home and those consumed at restaurants, including fast food chains. The findings suggest that home-cooked meals are generally more nutritious than restaurant meals due to factors such as portion control, ingredient transparency, and lower sodium and sugar content.
According to the research, eating out, whether fast food or full-service dining, leads to an average of 200 more calories consumed per day compared to home-cooked meals. This is supported by data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which shows that home-cooked meals usually align better with nutritional guidelines such as lower sodium and fat content as well as fewer total calories.
The analysis did not include direct laboratory testing of meals from specific restaurants or fast food chains. However, it is well-documented in nutrition research, including work affiliated with the University of Illinois, that outside meals tend to be more calorie-dense and richer in fats and sodium.
The study found that both fast food and restaurant meals far exceed recommended sodium levels and are often loaded with unhealthy nutrients such as saturated fats and cholesterol. In many cases, the numbers for saturated fats were alarmingly high, especially in seemingly "healthy" entrees like creamy pastas or seared meats. People who ate at full-service restaurants consumed significantly more cholesterol per day than people who ate at home, adding an average of 58mg more per day.
The study also noted that the lines between fast food and restaurant dining blur quickly when it comes to calories, fat, and sodium. The lack of awareness about the nutritional content of full-service restaurant meals may be the real issue leading to overconsumption.
The research did not examine the long-term health effects of different eating environments, such as stress levels, food diversity, or timing of meals. However, public health messaging needs to address eating out in general, not just fast food, by implementing policies such as mandatory calorie labeling, clearer information on cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fat content, public education about healthy meals, and incentives for restaurants to create genuinely healthful options.
Cooking at home reintroduces mindfulness into eating, fostering awareness, reducing impulse decisions, and strengthening the relationship with food. The healthiest meal is likely the one you make yourself.
Sources:
- Ruopeng An et al., University of Illinois
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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