X-treme Eating Awards highlight mega calorie restaurant dishes - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Order either the Bistro Shrimp Pasta or the Crispy Chicken Costoletta at the Cheesecake Factory, and you'll get more calories than you'd need in an entire day.

That's not all.

"They each have four and a half days' worth of saturated fat," said Michael Jacobson, Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The CSPI is handing out its annual X-treme Eating Awards to chain restaurants based on calorie, sodium and fat content data from each restaurant.

The point is to try to shock people into seeing what goes into their mouths..

"We try to take Americans by the lapels and shake them and say, you know, be careful. If you want to eat these meals, fine, but you should know what you're getting," said Jacobson.

You'll get more than 6,000 milligrams of salt - a four-day supply - when you order the full rack of baby back ribs at Chili's. The dish comes with homestyle fries and cinnamon apples.

Dietitians say there are ways to eat out and avoid gastronomic gluttony.

"Instead of starting your meal with a bread basket or fatty appetizer, choose a broth-based soup or even hot tea," said Lisa Cimperman, UH Case Medical Center.

Some studies show people who start their meals with a warm liquid consumer fewer calories.

In a statement, the National Restaurant Association said it's committed to taking a proactive role in helping the restaurant industry address food and healthy living, including obesity.

Even the Cheesecake Factory offers what it calls a "skinny-licious" menu. The trick is resisting its namesake.

This gives the complete report and lists more restaurants and extreme eating menu items.