Restaurant Food Might Be As Unhealthy As Fast Food Suggests Study

The food cooked at home is far healthier than the food available in fast food joints as well as restaurants. According to a U.S. study, the best way to keep a check on fat, calories and sugar is home-cooked food.

Eating at fast food joints and restaurants lead to the increase in fat, sodium and calories suggested the researchers.

According to Ruopeng An, who is a professor of community health and kinesiology at the Urbana-Champaign's University of Illinois, people have compared junk food with fast food in the past.

"But, people don't know much about the food provided by full-service restaurants and if it is better or healthier compared to fast food or compared to food prepared and consumed at home," An said to Reuters.

A survey was conducted with a sample of 18,000 adults. The sample size was asked what they have consumed in two days. The eating habits were compared and the researchers found out that folks who ate at fast food joints consumed 190 more calories on a daily basis compared to people who ate home-cooked food.

Meanwhile, restaurant goers consumed 187 more calories on a daily basis. "So people who consume food at full-service restaurants are not aware of the calorie and nutrient content in the food served (and) are more likely to overeat and are less cautious about the extra calories they intake from the full-service restaurant," An stated.

Lori Rosenthal, who is a dietician in New York City's Montefiore Medical Center said that when people cook food at home, they are aware what they are eating.

However, she added that when people eat in a restaurant or fast food joint, they don't know the ingredients used by the chef. Rosenthal said that when people cook at home, they are in control.