The Highest Calorie Meals At Chain Restaurants
The Cheesecake Factory made the list, and it wasn't for its cheesecake
When you're craving a bucket of fried chicken from KFC or fries from McDonald's, calories are probably the last thing you're worried about. We're all aware that chain restaurants don't always offer the healthiest options; however, it's still shocking every time we get a glimpse at just how many calories are in some of our favorite foods.
This year's Xtreme Eating Awards, provided by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), reveals just what is actually in your favorite menu items. Each dish is broken down by calories, saturated fat, sodium and added sugar.
The Cheesecake Factory makes the list twice, but surprisingly not for its beloved cheesecake, and Uno Pizzeria & Grill is on there, too, but not for its pizza. According to the nonprofit organization, a bowl of TCF's Pasta Napoletana contains 2,300 calories and 79 grams of saturated fat; as for Uno, its Ridiculously Awesome, Insanely Large Chocolate Cake contains a whopping 168 grams of sugar. And you can't always trust the vegetables either—the loaded sweet potato from Texas Roadhouse contains a staggering 770 calories.
Think you're safe with breakfast? Think again. The cheeseburger omelet with a side of buttermilk pancakes from IHOP is almost 2,000 calories. That's "like eating four McDonald's Sausage Egg McMuffins drizzled with 2 tablespoons of syrup," according to CSPI.
While moderation is key, in this case, you either go big or go home. To see the full list of winners, head to CSPI's website.