The #1 Worst Menu Option at 41 Popular Restaurants
By Dana Leigh Smith & The Editors of Eat This, Not That!The rule “everything in moderation” simply isn’t an excuse for these excessive, worst-items-you-could-possibly-order choices that will set you back for days.Some people see lists like these and take them as a way to figure out what’s “tasty,” what’s “not going to suck,” and what’s “okay to eat once in awhile.” But these items are literally the least nutritious, most caloric, most horrifying choices on menus that—generally speaking—aren’t exactly known for keeping people slim.We understand that it’s practically an art to eat out and remain relatively healthy. But this list isn’t about that art — here, experts take a deep dive into the nutritional information of 40 restaurants and fast food chains and resurface with a definitive declaration: “If you go to this one restaurant, do not eat this one thing!”Scope out this exclusive list—and start undoing the damage to your waistline with these44 Ways to Lose 4 Inches of Body Fat!
The first 20 places on our list are places like Chili’s and Olive Garden. You’re most likely sitting down, maybe with the fam, and it’s kinda nice.
Hand-Battered Fish&Chips;1,520 calories, 102 g fat (17 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 2,180 mg sodium, 106 g carbs (10 g fiber, 13 g sugar), 45 g proteinAttack of the beige! Whenever your dinner is monochromatic (in this case, the off-brown hue of deep-fried junk), you know you’re in trouble.
Country Fried Steak & 2 Eggs with Grits, Country Gravy, and 2 Biscuits1,500 calories, 102 g fat (37 g saturated fat, 2.5 g trans fat), 2,880 mg sodium, 105 g carbs (6 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 42 g proteinWhat has nearly a day’s worth of calories and two days' worth of saturated fat? This sneaky diet-derailing dish.
Top Shelf Combo Appetizer with Spicy Jack Cheese Wedges, Chicken Tenders, and Overloaded Potato Skins1,880 calories, 132 g fat (48 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 3,300 mg sodium, 74 g carbs (4 g fiber, 9 g sugar), 88 g proteinWhen it comes to contributing to our nation’s ever-expanding collective waistline, O'Charley's — home of Free Pie Wednesdays and caloric Southern-inspired fare — is certainly doing their part. And this dish is no exception.
Large Thai Curry Boneless Wings2,040 calories, 133 g fat (40 g saturated fat, 4 g trans fat), 7,050 mg sodium, 134 g carbs (12 g fiber, 9 g sugar), 78 g proteinEven if you divide this 24-piece platter into two portions, you'd still consume over 1,000 calories and more than your entire daily recommended intake of sodium! Wings may be tasty, but there are far better ways to spend your salt allowance.
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Thin Crust Pizza1,320 calories, 42 g fat (18 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 3,930 mg sodium, 162 g carbs (6 g fiber, 36 g sugar), 72 g proteinThink “Thin Crust” always translates to “healthy option?” Well, think again. These slimmer slices have as many carbs as a traditional slice, but way more sodium.
Fettuccine Weesie1,460 calories, 90 g fat (57 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 3,330 mg sodium, 96 g carbs (8 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 58 g proteinShrimp! Mushrooms!
Pasta Carbonara with Chicken2,291 calories, N/A g fat (81 g saturated fat, N/A g trans fat), 1,628 mg sodium, 144 g carbs (N/A g fiber, N/A g sugar), N/A g proteinWe give the Cheesecake Factory props for rolling out some lighter options as of late, but its menu is still home to some of the most caloric fare in the nation. What’s worse, the Factory insists on keeping its nutritional info under lock and key.
Bacon Ranch Beef Quesadilla1,850 calories, 140 g fat (48 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 3,990 mg sodium, 69 g carbs (4 g fiber, 10 g sugar), 82 g proteinWith nearly a day’s worth of calories and more fat than 10 hot dogs, this southwestern-inspired, steak-and-bacon-stuffed quesadilla will pop the button right off your skinny jeans! Even if you shared it with a friend, you’d be taking in 2.8 times the American Heart Association’s recommended daily intake of saturated fat.
The Grand Slamwich with Hash Browns1,390 calories, 96 g fat (28 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 3,320 mg sodium, 82 g carbs (4 g fiber, 9 g sugar), 47 g protein“It’s just a breakfast sandwich, how bad could it be?” You ask. “Pretty bad.” We say.
Clam Strips Platter1,550 calories, 90 g fat (20 g saturated fat, n/a g trans fat), 2,710 mg sodium, 160 g carbs (10 g fiber, 10 g sugar), 40 g proteinUnless you’re stocking up to hibernate for winter, there’s no reason ever to order a menu item that contains the word “platter.” More often than not, it’s code for “way too many calories, carbs, and fat.” Don’t believe it? Consider: This bland bowl of beige serves up more carbs than 19 chocolate chip cookies and more calories than 122 small clams.
Appetizer Sampler with Honey Mustard Dressing1,650 calories, 92 g fat (21 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 3,580 mg sodium, 148 g carbs (10 g fiber, 23 g sugar), 60 g proteinJust look at that plate of crispy brown nastiness! “Monster” mozzarella sticks, onion rings and c