When it comes to eating out, America has no shortage of unhealthy options. While many of the artery-clogging, calorie-packing, and waist-expanding choices are obvious, other fast food items are deceptively deleterious. And although some can be enjoyed on occasion, most you’re better off avoiding—for good.
Worst Caffeinated Calories: Grande Starbucks Mint Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino® Blended Crème with Chocolate Whipped Cream and 2% Milk
Nutritional info: 530 calories, 19g fat (11g saturated fat), 320mg sodium, 84g carbohydrates
Whether the drink is a special treat after a stressful day at work or a part of your everyday diet, the calories in all Starbucks beverages beyond black coffee can add up. Even if you get the Mint Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino in the tall size with nonfat milk and no whipped cream (which, let’s be real, you’re probably not going to do), the drink’s calorie count isn’t going to drop below 320.
A better bet: Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino® blended coffee, without whipped cream, only has 270 calories.
Worst Catastrophe in Cheese: Burger King’s Triple Whopper with Cheese
Nutritional info: 1230 calories, 82g fat (32g saturated fat, 3.5g trans fat), 1590mg sodium
You knew when you ordered a Whopper that it wasn’t going to be health food, but eighty-two grams of fat and quadruple-digit calories? Really?
A better bet: A single Whopper without cheese or mayo still has 510 calories—split it with a friend.
Most Disastrous Dessert: PF Chang’s Great Wall of Chocolate
Nutritional info: 1,440 calories, 61g fat (20g saturated fat), 1,120mg sodium
A massive chocolate-cake fortress probably wouldn’t be very helpful in protecting China from marauding Huns. Your stomach won’t be safe either if you consume this over-the-top dessert (unless you’re splitting it between a family of five).
A better bet: The “mini great wall” only has 170 calories and 9g fat, a much more reasonable dessert for one person. Photo: mightykenny (cc)
Worst “Salad”: Chevys’ Tostada Salad with Chicken
1551 calories, 94g fat, 2480mg sodium
Don’t let the word “salad” mislead you; this abomination can only be described as a pile of fatty, faux-Mexican shame. Even without tortilla strips, cheese, sour cream, or guacamole (one wonders what’s left), this “salad” weighs in at 883 calories and 42g fat.
A better bet: Most Chevys meal items have fewer calories than this salad.
Worst “Salad” Runner-Up: Taco Bell’s Chicken Ranch Fully Loaded Taco Salad
Nutritional info: 960 calories, 57g fat (10g saturated fat, 0.5g trans fat), 1740mg sodium, 78g carbohydrates
Even though its calorie count isn’t as despicable as that of Chevys’ aforementioned disaster, this dressing-drenched meal item still doesn’t deserve a place in the “salad” family.
A better bet: Items from Taco Bell’s “Fresco Menu” are meal-sized and contain 340 calories or less.
