Tip of the Day:

What It Takes to Burn Off Meat Lasagna

Who doesn't love a big Italian family dinner? And what's better than good old-fashioned lasagna overflowing with cheese and meat? The problem is, as delicious as this cheese- and meat-filled dish tastes, it's also filled with calories and saturated fat — which are not so good for your waistline and arteries. A serving of lasagna at most restaurants is 9 ounces, which, while it's certainly a generous portion, is one that will cost you 500 to 700 calories. That will take some time to burn off.

Exercise Equivalents

• Walking: 150–212 minutes
• Running: 50–70 minutes
• Swimming: 96–134 minutes
• Bicycling: 72–100 minutes

As bad as the large number of calories in this dish seems, the fat and saturated fat content are worse. With 19 to 26 grams of total fat, and 10 to 14 grams of saturated fat, you'll be lucky if you don't go into cardiac arrest before the meal ends! If you're making lasagna at home, skip the meat, cut back on the cheese, and bulk up on extra vegetables to make your Italian meal a healthier one. If you're out, split the portion with a friend or order a half portion of pasta primavera instead.