Worst Foods Summer 2009

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Worst Foods Summer 2009
17
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 10:16am

Found this article about restaurant foods...very eyeopening.
Not all of the restaurants are in my area, but it still gives a good look at how unhealthy their menu choices are in general and how carefully we have to evaluate what choices we make. They also give better choices to make instead, but still not good enough.


I wish my husband and I didn't like eating out so often..yes, I do..no, I don't..yes, I do..LOL!

It's true: A little dessert won't kill you. Or even make you fat.

The problem, of course, is actually finding a little dessert. Take Romano's Macaroni Grill, for instance. This restaurant's offerings include no fewer than seven sweets that break the 1,000-calorie barrier.

It just goes to show: The typical restaurant menu has more hidden hazards than Amen Corner at Augusta National. (Check out our slideshow of the 30 Worst Foods in America for some jaw-dropping examples). Misplay your shot at ordering dinner, and your caloric cup runneth over. That's why we wrote our newest book, Eat That, Not That! The Best (& Worst!) Foods in America.

Think of us as your menu handicapper as we point out the hazards, crunch the numbers, and help you go straight for the winners. Accordingly, we've identified the very healthiest menu items in hundreds of categories--as well as the choices you should 86 for good. We offer a taste here--featuring the best and worst summer fare, from burgers to sides to drinks.

It's a lot like golf, in fact. Keep your numbers low with each meal--by eating smart and avoiding nutritional bogeys--and the total will take care of itself.


WORST DESSERT OF THE SUMMER
Romano's Macaroni Grill New York Cheesecake with Caramel Fudge Sauce
1,660 calories
165 g carbohydrates
97 g fat (57 g saturated)
950 mg sodium

Macaroni Grill's dessert menu is downright dangerous: the Amaretto Apple Crispetti (1,450 calories), the Smothered Chocolate Cake (1,390 calories), and worst of all, this caramel-drenched cheesecake. (Get two dozen easy and effective exercise routines to get your best body fast! Try the new Men's Health iPhone fitness app!)

Eat this instead!
Italian Sorbetto with Biscotti
240 calories
58 g carbohydrates
1 g fat (0.5 g saturated)
35 mg sodium

WORST SIDE DISH OF THE SUMMER
Uno Chicago Grill Spinach, Chicken, and Gorgonzola Salad
720 calories
50 g carbohydrates
44 g fat (10 g saturated)
1,320 mg sodium

Unless it's labeled "side," most Uno salads are big enough to be your entire meal. The spinach base is a good, healthy start, but this salad goes overboard with extra cheese and dressing.

Eat this instead!
Caesar Side Salad
250 calories
8 g carbohydrates

WORST BURGER OF THE SUMMER
Chili's Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Big Mouth Burger with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
1,901 calories
68 g carbohydrates
138 g fat (47 g saturated)
4,201 mg sodium

Any 21-syllable burger spells trouble. This is as caloric as four Burger King Double Cheeseburgers, and has as much fat as 15 Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layer Biscuits.

Eat this instead!
Fajita Pita Beef
489 calories
51 g carbohydrates
21 g fat (4 g saturated)
1,543 mg sodium

WORST MILKSHAKE OF THE SUMMER
Cold Stone Creamery Gotta Have It Size PB&C Shake
2,010 calories
131 g fat (68 g saturated)
153 g sugars

This one drink packs more calories than a dozen ice cream sandwiches and more saturated fat than nearly 20 large orders of McDonald's french fries. Cold Stone has no shake under 1,000 calories, so have a small ice cream instead. (See our list of 11 ice creams under 200 calories.)

Eat This Instead!
Like It Size Peanut Butter Ice Cream
370 calories
24 g fat (13 g saturated)
28 g sugars




 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2003
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 10:35am

triple number fat grams? GROSS!!! it would take me a MONTH to eat that much fat in my regular meals!! that's disgusting!!!

a woman on another board i go to put it the best way ... when you realize how many calories and fat grams are in some of those fast food or restaurant items ... it's almost like finding a hair in your food ... at least it is to me ... it makes me NOT want it at ALL

 
 
 
 

Avatar for adora1069
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 10:46am
Gross!
AJ bike siggy
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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 10:56am

Took a look.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 12:27pm
How sad, LOL
We too eat out a bit often Donna,
Now what .. you think we'll have to cook more ::gasp::
Bring on the Caesar salads
Thanks for the great share :)
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 12:37pm
"almost like finding a hair in your food"..good analogy!!





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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 12:46pm

Scary is right!! And they only mentioned sugars on the Cold Stone Creamery ones! I know


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 1:13pm

NO, Hugsie..No way do I think we should cook more!!! LOL!!


Caesar salad is not a bad choice if it's a small sized one with very little dressing as the dressing has too many sat fats in it. The Lite Caesar dressing is low in fats, but has too much sugar in it. They up the sugar when they reduce the fat to make it taste okay. Another choice is Lite Italian dressing, which only has 1 gram of sat fats, but has 20 grams of sugar!! Yikes!! We should never eat more than 4 grams of


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 2:54pm

I guess that is the best thing to eat smaller portions of things.
I know it is soooo hard for most people.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2009
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 3:41pm

For years my DH & I ordered oil & vinegar for our salads,
But lately it's not available.

 


yougogirl

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 4:26pm
But Donna,
I didn't see any salad dressing I like, LOL
I love creamy ranch ::gasp::
I could eat his Italian if I had to but ..
Need a good Ranch one.
And don't say the Ranch lite or low fat .. they taste terrible.
Will watch my salad dressings of course
No way could I ever make my own ..
Well when I did it was mayo & ketchup
So .. we'll just have to be good, LOL
Great share, thank you as always :)




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