Trying to eat healthy? You should probably avoid these calorie-packed dishes.
After looking at the menus and nutrition facts for over 200 of the top chain restaurants, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) published a list of the top nine "worst" meals.
In this year’s annual “Xtreme Eating Awards,” The Cheesecake Factory made the list—twice.
The recommended amount of calories for the average person is 2,000 calories per day. Most restaurant meals pack around 1,000 calories. The dishes on this list go above and beyond.
“But our winners have what it takes...a total disregard for the obesity epidemic and the coming diabetes tsunami,” CSPI writes. “Of course, you can’t blame restaurants for that. That would be so unfair.”
Check out the “2015 Xtreme Eating Awards” list below:
1. Red Lobster’s “Create Your Own Combination” – 2,710 calories
If you choose the Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp, Walt’s Favorite, and Shrimp Linguine Alfredo to go with a side of Caesar salad, French fries, and one Cheddar Bay Biscuit, you get 2,710 calories and 6,530 mg (a four-day supply) of sodium.
“It’s like eating an 8-piece bucket of KFC Original Recipe chicken with four sides of mashed potatoes with gravy, four pieces of corn on the cob, and eight packets of ‘buttery spread,’” CSPI says.
Add the Lobsterita—the chain’s trademarked 24-ounce margarita—and the meal reaches 3,600 calories—enough calories for today and most of tomorrow.
2. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit “3 Meat Plate” – 2,500 calories
With a pick-three combination of meats—including Polish sausage, pork ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, barbecue honey ham, spicy cheddar sausage, and turkey or chicken breast—and fried onion tanglers coupled with mac & cheese for two sides, along with the free roll, pickles, and onions, a 32-ounce cup of sweet tea with free refills,
Nutritionists at CSPI picked the Polish sausage, pork ribs, and beef brisket out of the wide selection of meats—including barbecue honey ham, spicy cheddar sausage, and turkey or chicken breast.
They chose fried onion tanglers and mac & cheese for their two sides.
They coupled the meal with a 32-ounce cup of sweet tea with free refills and a half cup of ice cream in a cone, bringing up the total to roughly 2,500 calories, 49 grams of saturated fat, 4,700 mg of sodium, and 29 teaspoons of mostly added sugar.
“It’s like having three Big Macs with five Vanilla Cones,” CSPI writes.
3. Outback Steakhouse’s “Herb Roasted Prime Rib” – 2,400 calories
The 15-ounce prime rib alone deliver 1,400 calories. With the dressed baked potato, the classic blue cheese wedge, and just half of the loaf of bread with a bit of butter racks up the tab to 2,400 calories, 71 grams of saturated fat (over three days worth), and 3,560 mg of sodium.
4. The Cheesecake Factory’s “Louisiana Chicken Pasta” – 2,370 calories
The “Parmesan crusted chicken served over pasta with mushrooms, peppers and onions in a spicy New Orleans sauce” weighs an impressive 1½ pounds. The four slices of breaded chicken, pasta, and sauce with butter and heavy cream serve up 2,370 calories, 80 grams of saturated fat (a four-day supply), and 2,370 mg of sodium.
5. Uno Pizzeria & Grill “2 for $12 Pick & Choose” – 2,190 calories
The “2 for $12 Pick & Choose” option lets you choose from five salads, four pastas, and three pizzas.
The nutritionists at CSPI picked the Baked Ziti & Sausage Pasta (720 calories) and a “small plate version” of Uno’s Chicago Classic Deep Dish pizza (1,470 calories).
Altogether, you get 2,190 calories, 49 grams of saturated fat, 5,420 mg of sodium, and lots of white flour.
6. SONIC’s “Pineapple Upside Down Master Blast” – 2,020 calories
A large order of this drink comes in a 32-ounce cup. The vanilla ice cream mixed with pineapple, salted caramel, and pie crust pieces, topped with whipped cream, comes out to 2,020 calories, 61 grams of saturated fat, 4.5 grams of trans fat, and 29 teaspoons of added sugar.
“One Master Blast has the calories of roughly four Dairy Queen Banana Splits,” says CSPI.
7. The Cheesecake Factory’s “Warm Apple Crisp” – 1,740 calories
The apples, nut toppings, two scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce come out to 1,740 calories, more than any cheesecake on the menu.
You also get 48 grams of saturated fat and 32 teaspoons of mostly added sugar.
8. Steak ‘n Shake’s “7X7 Steakburger ‘n Fries” – 1,330 calories
The seven beef patty burger comes out to 1,330 calories, plus 240 calories with a small side of fries.
Add the 960-calories “Chocolate Fudge Brownie Milkshake,” and you get 2,530 calories, 68 grams of saturated fat, 5,060 mg of sodium, and 26 teaspoons of sugar.
“It’s like polishing off four 9 oz. Outback sirloin steaks, each topped with two halfcup scoops of Breyers Chocolate Ice Cream,” CSPI nutritionists estimate.
9. IHOP’s “Chorizo Fiesta Omelette” – 1,300 calories
The omelet “loaded with spicy chorizo sausage, roasted peppers, onions & pepper jack cheese, then topped with a citrus chili sauce & sour cream and served with a fresh grilled serrano pepper” has 1,300 calories which is bad enough. But it comes with three buttermilk pancakes (or hash browns, buttered toast, or fruit).
“Remember when three pancakes alone was a big breakfast?” CSPI writes.
With an added four tablespoons of syrup, you eat a total of 1,990 calories, 42 grams of saturated fat, 4,840 mg of sodium, and 1,035 mg of cholesterol (two or three days’ worth of each).
Take a look at some of the “winners” in the CSPI Nutrition Action Healthletter video below.