The worst foods in America

The worst foods in America

Message edited 1/11/2008 12:08:20 PM.

Re: The worst foods in America

None of this is surprising. Chances are, if you walk into a chain restaurant (most of the foods on that list were from chains), open their menu, close your eyes and randomly point to any item, it's gonna be laden with all sorts of processed crap that's not good for you.

Re: The worst foods in America

Re: The worst foods in America

That first pic makes me want to go to outback tonight for dinner! haha

Re: The worst foods in America

Re: The worst foods in America

This was posted on Diet and Fitness a few days ago.

I can't believe some of that, and I love Outback Cheese Fries

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I was pizzed about the blooming onion from Chili's, no wonder it tastes soooo good!!!

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Unreal.

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Superb! The gtg tommorrow is at On the Border, I guess I will have water and crackers.

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The Blooming Onion is something like 66 points on Weight Watchers.

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omg i freaking love those cheese fries from outback---i can't lie---they are tasty as hell.

nothing that tastes so good could ever be healthy!

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haha most of my 'go to ' foods are on there
chipolte honey cripsers
blooming onion
cheesey fries
hmm no wonder i can't lose 10 lbs

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Could someone please post the article in copy form, the website is blocked by my company

Thanks!

Re: The worst foods in America

So my favorite deep-fried Mars bar isn't there. Woo hoo! Those are 18.9 points on WWers.

Re: The worst foods in America

SRY THE PICS WOULDN'T COPY...


1. The Worst Food in America
Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing

2,900 calories
182 g fat 240 g carbs

Even if you split this "starter" with three friends, you'll have downed a dinner's worth of calories before your entree arrives. Follow this up with a steak, sides, and a dessert and you could easily break the 3,500 calorie barrier.

Front-load: Start your meal with a protein-based dish that's not deep-fried. A high-protein starter helps diminish hunger without putting you into calorie overload. At Outback, that translates to either the Seared Ahi or the Shrimp on the Barbie.


2. Worst Starter
Chili's Awesome Blossom

2,710 calories
203 g fat 194 g carbs
6,360 mg sodium

Hard to believe that a single onion can wreak so much nutritional havoc, but batter and fry anything and serve it with a rich dipping sauce and your bound to do some damage.

Start properly: At Chili's, take a detour to the "Sides" menu and try the Garlic & Lime Grilled Shrimp. 4 shrimp will only cost you 160 calories.

3. Worst Nachos
On the Border Stacked Border Nachos


2,740 calories
166 g fat 191 g carbs
5,280 mg sodium

The only way you should ever consider eating these is if you're rolling with a crew of eight.

Turn away: You won't find a decent option on the appetizer menu. Instead, turn to the Chicken Tacos on the entee portion of the menu; at 250 calories a pop, they make as good a start to your meal as you can hope for.

4. Worst Pasta
Macaroni Grill Spaghetti and Meatballs with Meat Sauce

2,430 calories
128 g fat 207 g carbs
5,290 mg sodium

This meal satisfies your calorie requirements for an entire day.

Downsize the Devastation: Ask for a lunch portion of this dinner dish (or any pasta on the menu, for that matter), and request regular tomato sauce instead of meat sauce. You'll cut the calories in half.

5. Worst Pizza
Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza

2,310 calories
162 g fat 123 g carbs
4,470 mg sodium

Downing this "personal" pizza is equivalent to eating 18 slices of Domino's Crunchy Thin Crust cheese pizza.

Swap Your Slices: Switch to the Sausage Flatbread Pie and avert deep-dish disaster by nearly 1,500 calories.

6. Worst Fish Entree
On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos with Rice and Beans

2,100 calories
130 g fat 169 g carbs
4,750 mg sodium

Perhaps the most misleadingly named dish in America: A dozen crunchy tacos from Taco Bell will saddle you with fewer calories.

Lighten the Load: Ask for grilled fish, choose the corn tortillas instead of flour (they're lower in calories and higher in fiber), and swap out the carbohydrate-loaded rice for grilled vegetables.

7. Worst Chicken Entree
Chili's Honey Chipotle Crispers with Chipotle Sauce

2,040 calories
99 g fat
240 g carbs

"Crispers" refers to an extra-thick layer of bread crumbs that soaks up oil and adds unnecessary calories and carbs to these glorified chicken strips.

Switch Your Selection: Order the Chicken Fajita Pita: At 450 calories and 43 grams of protein, it's one of the healthiest entrees you'll find in a chain restaurant.

Super Substitutions: Front-load your meal with a protein-based dish that's not deep-fried. A high-protein starter helps diminish hunger without putting you into calorie overload. And remember: Appetizers are meant to be shared.

8. Worst Chinese Entree
P.F. Chang's Pork Lo Mein

1,820 calories
127 g fat 95 g carbs

The fat content in this dish alone provides more than 1,100 calories. And you'd have to eat almost five servings of pasta to match the number of carbohydrates it contains. Now, do you really need five servings of pasta?

Pick Another Noodle: P.F. Chang's Singapore Street Noodles will satisfy your craving with only 570 calories. Or try the Moo Goo Gai Pan or the Ginger Chicken & Broccoli, which have 660 calories each.

9. Worst Dessert
Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

1,600 calories
78 g fat 215 g carbs

Would you eat a Big Mac for dessert? How about three? That's the calorie equivalent of this decadent dish. Clearly, Chili's customers get their money's worth.

Don't Overdo It: If you want dessert at Chili's, order one single-serving Sweet Shot; you'll cap your after-dinner intake at 310 calories.

10. Worst Breakfast
Bob Evans Caramel Banana Pecan Cream Stacked and Stuffed Hotcakes

1,540 calories
77 g fat
(9 g trans fat)
198 g carbs
(109 g sugar)

Five Egg McMuffins yield the same caloric cost as these sugar-stuffed flapjacks.

Order This Instead: The Western Omelet has 654 calories and 44 grams of protein.

11. Worst Steak
Lonestar 20 oz T-bone

1,540 calories
124 g fat

Add a baked potato and Lonestar's Signature Lettuce Wedge, and this is a 2,700-calorie blowout.

Choose with Your Head: The golden rule of steak restaurants is this: Limit yourself to a 9-ouncer or smaller. After all, that's more than half a pound of meat. You won't walk away hungry.

12. Worst Burger
Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger

1,520 calories
111 g fat

Carl's brags about this, but also provides convenient nutrition info on its Web site —so ignorance is no excuse for eating it.

A Simple Solution: The Low Carb Six Dollar Burger has just 490 calories.

13. Worst Salad
On the Border Grande Taco Salad with Taco Beef

1,450 calories
102 g fat 78 g carbs
2,410 mg sodium

This isn't an anomaly: Five different On the Border salads on the menu contain more than 1,100 calories each.

The Salad for You: The Sizzling Chicken Fajita Salad supplies an acceptable 760 calories.But remember to choose a noncaloric beverage, such as water or unsweetened iced tea.

14. Worst Sandwich
Quizno's Classic Italian

1370 calories
86 g fat
4490 mg sodium

A large homemade sandwich would more likely provide about 500 calories.

Cut the Calories: Isn't it obvious? Order a small — or save half for later

15. Worst Kids' Meal
Macaroni Grill Double Macaroni 'n' Cheese

1,210 calories
62 g fat
3,450 mg sodium

It's like feeding your kid 1 1/2 boxes of Kraft mac 'n' cheese.

Your Best Option: The 390-calorie Grilled Chicken and Broccoli.

16. Worst Mexican Entree
Chipotle Mexican Grilled Chicken Burrito

1,179 calories
7 g fat
125 g carbs
2,656 mg sodium

Despite a reputation for using healthy, fresh ingredients, Chipotle's menu is limited to king-size burritos, overstuffed tacos, and gigantic salads —all of which lead to a humongous waistline.

Make Over the Menu:

There are two ways to make a Chipotle burrito healthy enough to eat:

(1) 86 the rice and tortilla and request your meat, vegetables, and beans served in a bowl, or
(2) Bring a friend and saw the burrito in half.

17. Worst "Healthy" Burger
Ruby Tuesday Bella Turkey Burger

1,145 calories
71 g fat
56 g carbs

We chose this burger for more than its calorie payload: Its name implies that it's healthy.

The Truly Healthy Choice: Skip burgers entirely (few at Ruby Tuesday come in under 1,000 calories). Instead, order a 9-ounce sirloin with a side of steamed vegetables.

18. Worst Supermarket Meal
Pepperidge Farm Roasted Chicken Pot Pie (whole pie)

1,020 calories
64 g fat
86 g carbs

The label may say this pie serves two, but who ever divided a small pot pie in half? Once you crack the crust, there will be no stopping.

Pick a Better Pie: Swanson's pot pie has just 400 calories.

19. Worst Drink
Jamba Juice Chocolate Moo'd Power Smoothie
(30 fl oz)

900 calories
10 g fat
183 g carbs
(166 g sugar)

Jamba Juice calls it a smoothie; we call it a milk shake. In fact, this beverage contains more sugar than two pints of Ben and Jerry's Butter Pecan ice cream.

Turn Down the Power: Seventy-five percent of this chain's "power smoothies" contain in excess of 100 grams of sugar. Stick to Jamba's lower-calorie All Fruit Smoothies, which are the only menu items that contain no added sugar. And always opt for the 16-ounce "small."

20. Worst Fast Food Chicken Meal
Chicken Slects Premium Breast Strips from McDonald's (5 pieces) with creamy ranch sauce

830 calories
55g fat (4.5g trans fat)
48g carbs

The only thing "premium" about these strips is the caloric price you pay. Add a large fries and regular soda and this seemingly innocuous chicken meal tops out at 1,710 calories.

Change Your Chicken: McNuggets have the same impact. Instead, choose Mickey D's six-piece offering with BBQ sauce and save yourself 530 calories.

Re: The worst foods in America

I love cheese fries, but dh and i get from boulder creek, dipping sauce is better.


eta: couldnt they have taken pictures of the food before it was half eaten, these pics look disgusting.

Message edited 1/11/2008 12:38:23 PM.

Re: The worst foods in America

"3. Worst Nachos
On the Border Stacked Border Nachos

2,740 calories
166 g fat 191 g carbs
5,280 mg sodium

The only way you should ever consider eating these is if you're rolling with a crew of eight. "



I believe I've split that with my "crew" of 4 family members.
And that was only the beginning!

"And remember: Appetizers are meant to be shared."

That's only true in chain, casual eating restaurants, becaue the portions are giant! In a real restaurant appetizers are for 1.

Message edited 1/11/2008 12:45:06 PM.

Re: The worst foods in America

If you surveyed the average American, you could probably keep the exact same list, and just relabel it "American's favorite foods".

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Re: The worst foods in America

DH and I the cheese fries from Outback!!!!
I sent him this and asked if we can go tonight!!!

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Re: The worst foods in America

I want those fries NOW!!!...


Seriously though.. why did I just look at that.. Outback is WAY too close to my house for me to contain myself now

Re: The worst foods in America

Re: The worst foods in America

All of that food looks gross to me. I hate foods coved in sauces that look "messy." My pickiness is annoying to some people who I dine with, but after reading this, I am so glad!

Re: The worst foods in America

10. Worst Breakfast
Bob Evans Caramel Banana Pecan Cream Stacked and Stuffed Hotcakes


Worst breakfast? Sounds pretty darn GOOD to me