5 of the worst meals you can get at a chain restaurant
Jul 10, 2013, 3:00 PM | Updated: 3:00 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Long John Silver’s “Big Catch” meal with onion rings was declared the worst meal in America, and some are calling for the restaurant to take trans fat off the menu.
The 1,320-calorie meal and its accolades made us wonder: What other restaurants serve up unhealthy meals?
Long John Silver’s “Big Catch”
Breakdown: 1,320 cal – 33 g trans fats – 3,700 mg sodium
The Center for Science in the Public Interest declared this meal the worst in America after a series of laboratory tests. The 7 to 8 ounce haddock fillet is served up with a hearty portion of hushpuppies and onion rings, all of which are fried up in partially hydrogenated frying oil equaling 33 grams of trans fats. The American Heart Association recommends 2 grams of trans fats a day.
After removing the batter from the fish, CSPI found the fillet was an average of about 4.5 ounces of fish and almost 3 ounces of batter.
Chili’s Classic Chicken Nachos
Breakdown: 1,430 cal – 46 g saturated fat – 3,290 mg of sodium
Sharing a plate of these nachos may set you back half of your daily caloric intake and a day-and-a-half’s worth of sodium — and that’s before your meal.
IHOP Country Fried Steak and Eggs
Breakdown: 1,750 cal – 46 g saturated fat – 4,210 mg sodium
Country basically means gravy is involved, and in this case of breakfast-for-dinner, it also means your 8-ounce beef steak is battered and fried. Served alongside fried hash browns and two buttermilk pancakes, you’re looking at almost three days’ worth of sodium. Get the sausage gravy and you’ll consume another 100 calories.
Sbarro Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza
Breakdown: 960 cal – 42 g total fat – 3,200 mg sodium
Consider this a 12.6 ounce slice of a calzone. Crust on the top and bottom, this pizza is filled with mozzarella and Romano cheese, sausage, pepperoni and tomato sauces — bringing its calorie count up to 960 as its sodium moves past 3,000 milligrams.
Five Guys Cheeseburger
Breakdown: 840 cal – 26.5 g saturated fat – 1,050 mg sodium
Served up plain, this cheeseburger has 500 calories from fat and 55 grams of total fat. Add a side of large fries and you’ve eaten your daily caloric intake in one sitting. And don’t even think about adding any toppings.
