News
New book names 20 worst restaurant foods in U.S.
November 30, 2009
Authors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding have revealed their list of "Worst Restaurant Foods in America," as featured in the new book "Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide," in stores now. The list ranks the nation's worst nutritional offenders at major fast food and restaurant chains across the country, while pointing out healthier alternatives at each establishment.
The "Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide" is the sixth installment in the popular book series, which currently has 5 million copies in print.
The authors spent months analyzing menus, nutrition labels and ingredients lists at the most popular chain and fast food restaurants in order to identify the worst nutritional offenders. Zinczenko and Goulding first evaluated calorie counts, then took into consideration a cluster of other nutritional markers: fat, saturated fat, sodium levels and added sugar.
As the authors release more "Worst Foods" lists, caloric offenders have been dropped from menus. Among them: Chili's Awesome Blossom (2,710 calories) and Baskin-Robbins' Heath Bar Shake (2,310 calories).
Topping the 2009 restaurant list is the Outback Steakhouse Chocolate Thunder Down Under, which contains more calories than 44 McDonald's Chicken McNuggets and an astounding four-and-a-half days' worth of saturated fat.
Among the list of the Top 20 Worst Restaurant Foods of 2009:
- Worst Sit-Down Burger: Applebee's Quesadilla Burger (1,820 calories, 46 grams fat)
- Worst Wrap: T.G.I. Friday's BBQ Chicken Wrap (1,720 calories)
- Worst Pizza: Sbarro Stuffed Pepperoni (one slice, 960 calories, 42 grams fat)
- Worst Sit-Down Kids' Meal: Cheesecake Factory Kids' Pasta with Alfredo Sauce (1,803 calories, 86 grams saturated fat)
- Worst Omelet: IHOP Colorado Omelet (1,890 calories, 47 grams saturated fat)
- Worst Restaurant Food in America of 2009: Outback Steakhouse Chocolate Thunder from Down Under (2,020 calories, 88 grams saturated fat, 161 grams carbohydrates)
According to Men's Health Magazine, other quick-serve menu items included in the Top 20 list include:
- Worst Fast Food Seafood Meal: Culver's North Atlantic Cod Filet Meal (three pieces, 2,121 calories, 135 grams fat, 2,568 milligrams sodium) A better choice? The chain's Tuna Salad on Grilled Sourdough (484 calories, 26 grams fat)
- Worst Side Dish: Jack in the Box Bacon Cheddar Wedges (760 calories, 53 grams fat). A healthier recommendation? Jack's Grilled Chicken Strips (four) with Fire Roasted Salsa (185 calories, 805 milligrams sodium)
- Worst Sweet Drink: Cold Stone Creamery PB&C Shake, Gotta Have It size (2,010 calories, 68 grams saturated fat. 153 grams sugars). A better-for-you option? The brand's Sinless Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Love It size (220 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 34 grams sugars)
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