Behold the Single Unhealthiest Meal You Can Eat at a Chain Restaurant (2024)

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has handed out their annual Xtreme Eating Awards to the fast food meals and chains that they deem the unhealthiest. After surveying over 200 chain restaurant menus for meals and combos that are especially high in calories, fat, sugar and salt, the winner of this year’s ignominious prize is a real monster. Specifically, Red Robin’s “monster-sized” A.1. peppercorn burger, served with “bottomless” fries and a “Monster” milkshake, which clocks in at a whopping 3,540 calories.

According to CSPI, it’s the “single unhealthiest” meal available at a chain restaurant, with 69 grams of saturated fat, 6,280 mg of sodium and an estimated almost three-quarters of a cup of added sugar. CSPI notes that to work off a meal of such, ahem, monstrous proportions, the average person would need to walk briskly for a full 12 hours, presumably not walking from one Red Robin to another. (One takeaway from this dubious distinction is that perhaps limiting one’s intake of foods preceded by the word “monster” should be step one towards healthy eating.)

Joining Red Robin in the winner’s circle for this ignoble prize is the Cheesecake Factory. While Red Robin won the top prize for its monster combo, the Cheesecake Factory earned itself three spots on the list. The popular chain’s Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic clocked in at 2,410 calories, which CSPI notes is “the calorie equivalent of a five-hour jog.” Also in the ranks are the Bruléed French Toast, which rang up 2,780 calories, and a Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake that contained 1,500 calories. Yes, the cheesecake had almost one thousand fewer calories than the innocent sounding chicken and pasta dish. Luckily the restaurant has many “Skinnylicious” menu options that make it easier to make healthier choices.

Consumers can make healthier eating choices at chain restaurants as they increasingly add low calorie, low carb and weight watching friendly items to their menus. For example, at Red Robin you could swap french fries for steamed broccoli, but that’s a different type of monster entirely.

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Behold the Single Unhealthiest Meal You Can Eat at a Chain Restaurant (2024)

FAQs

What is the most unhealthy restaurant meal? ›

Worst Restaurant Meals
  • Ham and Cheese Omelet. 1/15. The Count: Approximately 512 calories, 37 grams of fat, 1,277 milligrams of sodium. ...
  • Chicken and Waffles. 2/15. ...
  • Bacon Double Cheeseburger. 3/15. ...
  • Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack) 4/15. ...
  • Chicken Alfredo. 5/15. ...
  • Pepperoni Stromboli. 6/15. ...
  • General Tso's Chicken. 7/15. ...
  • Beef Chimichangas. 8/15.
Mar 16, 2024

What is the #1 unhealthiest food? ›

The Top 10 Worst Foods to Eat
  • Processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, and cold cuts.
  • Sodas.
  • White bread.
  • French fries.
  • Fast food burgers.
  • Donuts.
  • Processed cheese.
  • Potato chips.

What is the unhealthiest fast food menu item? ›

Hardee's Fried Chicken 12 Piece and 6 Biscuits tops the list as the unhealthiest fast food item, with an eye-watering 6,490 calories. Founded in 1960, Hardee's is a staple of the American fast food world, known for its Thickburgers, hand-breaded chicken tenders, and indulgent breakfast offerings.

What is the unhealthiest meal in Mcdonald's? ›

6 Unhealthy Menu Items At McDonalds That Really Pack On The Calories
  • McCafé Frappes. ...
  • Milkshakes. ...
  • Hotcakes And Sausages. ...
  • Soda. ...
  • Southwest Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Salad. ...
  • Shamrock Shakes.
Oct 4, 2023

What is the one food we should all stop eating? ›

1. Processed meat. Processed meats contain added nitrates and other chemical substances that are bad for your health. Certain processed meats like sausages are made from leftover unwanted parts of animals and often contain high amounts of salt and fat.

What is the number 1 worst food in the world? ›

Hákarl from Ireland

Rated at 1.8, this Icelandic dish holds the top spot as the worst-rated food globally.

What is the #1 most hated food? ›

The most hated food title goes to the anchovy, with 50% of those polled saying they hated the fish. Of that number, 58% of anchovy haters were women and 43% were men. With Halloween coming up, it might be prudent to stock up on any candy other than black licorice.

What is the unhealthiest fast food chain? ›

The Unhealthiest Fast Food Restaurants Of 2024
  • McDonald's. McDonald's food and drinks - Patcharap*rn Puttipon4289/Shutterstock. ...
  • White Castle. White Castle signs - Bruce VanLoon/Shutterstock. ...
  • Burger King. Burger King cheese burger food - Deutschlandreform/Shutterstock. ...
  • Carl Jr's. ...
  • Checkers & Rally's. ...
  • Arby's. ...
  • Bojangles. ...
  • Popeyes.
May 15, 2024

What's worse, beer or fast food? ›

Let's make no mistake about it, junk food does not contain any nutritional benefit. An exception may be that you add fruit to the ice cream you love. However, even with no nutritional benefit, it may be calorically less damaging than your choice of alcohol, depending what your poison is.

What fast foods should people avoid and why? ›

Try to avoid or limit fried and breaded items, such as crispy chicken sandwiches and breaded fish filets. Instead, opt for turkey, chicken breast, lean ham, or lean roast beef. Many fast food restaurants offer a grilled chicken item, which is often your best bet. Pay attention to the descriptions on the menu.

What is the rudest restaurant in America? ›

Dick's Last Resort teaches its servers to be obnoxious. In addition to the staff, the decor is considered to be "wacky." The restaurants can have mismatched furniture and paper tablecloths. Patrons of Dick's are expected to be insulted, or placed in uncomfortable situations.

Which fast food is bad for you? ›

Fast food is convenient and cheap, but you pay a bigger price in the long run. Those burgers, fries, and shakes usually have more fat, calories, and highly processed carbs than your body needs in one meal. This can quickly lead to weight gain and obesity if you eat it often.

What is the unhealthiest thing you could ever eat? ›

1. Bacon
  • Fried food. ...
  • Potato chips. ...
  • Added sugars. ...
  • Processed oils. Try to cut processed oils out of your diet as much as possible. ...
  • Hydrogenated fats. This category of fats lurks in many packaged foods and fast food products. ...
  • Refined carbohydrates. Advertisem*nt. ...
  • Breakfast sausages. Advertisem*nt. ...
  • Processed meat. Advertisem*nt.
Jan 30, 2022

What makes restaurant food unhealthy? ›

They're Missing Healthy Nutrients

Restaurant foods tend to be low in whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, all super-healthy foods that provide key macro and micronutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals. If you're only eating out every once in a while, this is okay.

What is the healthiest junk food restaurant? ›

15 Healthiest Fast Food Chains
  • Panera Bread. Panera Bread is one of the healthiest fast food chains and a great choice if you're looking for a healthy meal on the go. ...
  • Taco Bell. ...
  • Chick-Fil-A. ...
  • Chipotle. ...
  • Panda Express. ...
  • Sweetgreen. ...
  • Subway. ...
  • CAVA.
May 3, 2024

Is restaurant food worse than fast food? ›

Ingredients and Quality: Fast food establishments often use cost-effective ingredients and may prioritize efficiency over premium quality. It can result in lower food costs but may compromise the overall dining experience. Higher-end restaurants tend to focus on using fresh, high-quality ingredients.

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