Allison Knott

Charlie Galvin, owner of Curves in North Chattanooga, grew up with nine siblings. At mealtime, nothing was wasted.

“Whatever was on your plate, you had to eat it,” she recalled.

Americans, she said, have always been taught to eat everything on their plates, which may help explain why obesity is such a problem in the United States.

Restaurants aren’t helping. As American waistlines expand, servings at restaurants get larger.

These oversized portions are “more than people can eat at one time,” said Jeff Messinger, former president of the Tennessee Restaurant Association and owner of Mount Vernon Restaurant on Broad Street.

Allison Knott, a registered dietitian for Sodexo under contract with Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, Ga., suggests sharing a large meal with a dining companion.

“Portion sizes can be very deceiving,” she said. “You can have a large portion with so many calories, it can equal half, if not all, of your daily fat and calories needs.”

Ms. Galvin likes the economics of larger portions, but not at the expense of her waistline. Sharing the meal or saving a portion for later is the better option.

“If you’re wanting to manage, maintain or lose weight and you’re eating out, ask for a take-home box immediately when the server brings your meal to the table,” she said. “Put half in the box and set it aside.

“People need to learn to push the dish away when they are full and not overeat just because the food’s there.”

MEALS AROUND TOWN

1. Abuelo’s Los Mejores de la Casa can easily be shared or divided. It’s a large platter with two beef medallions and bacon-wrapped stuffed shrimp. File photo by Patrick Smith

2. Ask for a take-out container to be delivered as soon as your plate of BiBa’s blackened chicken pasta is brought to the table. Put half in the to-go box and save it for a meal the next day. File photo by Angela Lewis

3. New York Diner’s big breakfast is plenty for two. Share the eggs, home fries, and biscuits and gravy. File photo by Tim Barber

EXTREME EATING

A recent issue of the Nutrition Action Newsletter cited several restaurant meals that you may want to think twice about ordering. If you do, you may want to share the dish or take home for leftovers days to come.

* Olive Garden’s Tour of Italy — Homemade lasagna, lightly-breaded chicken Parmesan and Creamy Fettucine Alfredo (1,450 calories, 33 grams saturated fat and 3,830 milligrams sodium).

* Chili’s Big Mouth Bites — Four mini-bacon cheeseburgers. Order as an entree and you have a whopping 1,580 calories, 28 grams of fat and 2,930 milligrams sodium.

* Red Lobster Ultimate Fondue — Shrimp and crabmeat in creamy lobster-cheese sauce served in a sourdough bowl. Loosen your belt: 1,490 calories, 40 grams saturated fat, 3,580 milligrams sodium.

* Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger — Two large tortillas stuffed with cheese, beef patty and sauce. Come with fries (chili and cheese optional). Get ready — 1,820 calories 46 grams fat, 4,410 milligrams sodium.

— Nutrition Action Newsletter