A new report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest has identified the unhealthiest restaurant meals in America.
For the center's annual "Xtreme Eating" list, its nutrition experts reviewed menus at 200 restaurant chains in the US to find the meals heaviest in calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar.
Restaurants that made the list include The Cheesecake Factory, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobster.
Here's the list, ranked lowest to highest by calories.
9. The Cheesecake Factory: Warm Apple Crisp (1,740 calories)
This decadent dessert has whipped cream, caramel sauce, apple crumble, and two scoops of ice cream. It has 48 grams of saturated fat and 32 teaspoons of sugar.
8. IHOP: Chorizo Fiesta Omelette. (1,990 calories)
The egg dish is "loaded with spicy chorizo sausage, roasted peppers, onions, and pepper jack cheese, then topped with a citrus chili sauce and sour cream," according to the report. It also comes with three buttermilk pancakes.
When you account for four tablespoons of syrup on the pancakes, the calories come to 1,990, with 42 grams of saturated fat, 4,840 milligrams of sodium, and 1,035 milligrams of cholesterol.
7. Sonic: Pineapple Upside Down Master Blast (2,020 calories)
This drinkable dessert comes with vanilla ice cream, pineapple, salted caramel, and pie-crust pieces. A large contains 2,020 calories, with 61 grams of saturated fat and 29 teaspoons of added sugar.
6. Uno Pizzeria & Grill: The "2 For $12 Pick & Choose" menu (2,300 calories)
Uno's "2 for $12" deal lets customers choose from five salads, four pastas, and three pizzas. Combining the Baked Ziti & Sausage Pasta and a small Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza results in 2,300 calories, 49 grams of saturated fat, and 5,420 milligrams of sodium.
5. The Cheesecake Factory: Louisiana Chicken Pasta (2,370 calories)
This dish weights 1 1/2 pounds and comes with "heavily breaded" chicken, according to the report.
"Add the New Orleans sauce (butter and heavy cream), and your plate is up to 2,370 calories (more than a day's worth), plus 80 grams of saturated fat (a four-day supply) and 2,370 milligrams of sodium (1 1/2 days' worth). For those numbers, you could have had two Fettuccine Alfredos plus two breadsticks at Olive Garden.”
4. Outback Steakhouse: Herb Roasted Prime Rib (2,400 calories)
The 16-ounce prime rib that comes with this dish contains 1,400 calories. Sides of a dressed baked potato and wedge salad bring the meal to 2,400 calories, 71 grams of saturated fat, and 3,560 milligrams of sodium.
3. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: 3 Meat Plate (2,500 calories)
This meal comes with three meats and two sides. Combining the Polish sausage, pork ribs, beef brisket, fried onion tanglers, and macaroni and cheese results in 2,500 calories.
2. Steak 'n Shake: 7x7 Steakburger 'n Fries with a chocolate fudge brownie milkshake (2,530 calories)
The 7x7 Steakburger is massive. It contains a whopping seven beef patties for a total of 1,330 calories. A small order of fries and chocolate fudge brownie milkshake brings the meal to a total of 2,530 calories. The meal also has 68 grams of saturated fat, 5,060 milligrams of sodium, and 26 teaspoons of sugar.
1. Red Lobster: Create Your Own Combination meal (2,710 calories)
Picking three shrimp dishes — Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp, Walt's Favorite Shrimp, and Shrimp Linguine Alfredo — to go with the Caesar salad, fries, and a cheddar biscuit that are part of this meal brings the total calorie count to 2,710. Adding a Lobsterita, the chain's 890-calorie margarita, brings the total to 3,600 calories.
"It's like eating an eight-piece bucket of KFC Original Recipe chicken with four sides of mashed potatoes with gravy, four pieces of corn on the cob, and eight packets of 'buttery spread,'" the report says.
Red Lobster says there are plenty of healthier options to choose from on the Create Your Own Combination menu, such as the wood-grilled salmon and garlic grilled shrimp.
"The Create Your Own Combination lets guests choose two or three preparations from a list of nine to create a dish that meets their individual tastes and dietary preferences," the company said in a statement. "In fact, there are more than 500 possible combinations guests can create as part of Create Your Own. CSPI's Xtreme Eating Awards hone in on just one atypical combination and as a result inaccurately portrays the nature of this menu item."
