It's no secret that a restaurant menu can be a minefield for anyone trying to lose, or even maintain, a healthy weight. Each time you peruse a list of dinner specials, you're have the challenge to decipher exactly which dish will satisfy you and keep you healthy. Given the options out there today, it's no easy task. As nutrition information becomes available to the public (often as state laws are passed requiring disclosure), we're learning exactly what's in our favorite restaurant foods. And it's not always what we expect. Take a look at ten of the worst food selections that that can be made while eating out so you can be sure to avoid them in 2010. Beware; it's not just one restaurant that is guilty of sabotaging our health. Similar food options are on menus everywhere!
1. Chili's Awesome Blossom. With 2,710 calories and 203 grams of fat, this breaded and fried appetizer won't start your meal off on the right foot. Even if you're sharing, expect to leave with more calories than you bargained for!
2. Movie Theater Popcorn. This simple snack is a go-to for anyone taking a movie break. And while we never expected it to be ultra-healthy, The Center for Science in the Public Interest recently found that a medium movie theater popcorn (sans buttery topping) comes with 1,200 calories, 60 grams of saturated fat and 980 mg of sodium. Splurge on butter topping and you'll add 200 calories for each 1.5 tablespoons! Next time, skip the popcorn and get right to the show.
3. Cinnabon Caramel Pecanbon. This snack, at 1,110 calories and 47 grams of sugar, is one unhealthy treat that will crash your diet and your blood sugar.
4. Bob Evans Stacked & Stuffed Caramel Banana Pecan Hotcakes. With 1,543 calories, 77 grams of fat (9 grams of those are unhealthy trans-fats), 109 grams of sugar and 2,259 mg of sodium, this in one of the all-around unhealthiest dishes on our list. Think twice about starting your day with this extremely unhealthy breakfast choice and opt for a healthier choice.
5. Red Lobster Lobsterita. This cocktail (a take on the traditional margarita) will set you back 890 calories. And don't even think that you might be getting nutritional benefits from its fruity ingredients. It's actually a hefty dose of high fructose corn syrup.
6. Dunkin Donuts Muffins. A muffin might seem like a healthy alternative to a donut, but at 590 calories (and 210 calories from fat), one Chocolate Chip Muffin will put your diet on the wrong track for the day! Other muffin varieties aren't much better; a Lemon Poppyseed Muffin has 580 calories. And even Dunkin Donuts' "reduced fat" choices are appalling: a Reduced Fat Blueberry Muffin has 450 calories (110 calories from fat). The lesson? Skip those sweet dessert breakfasts!
7. P.F Chang's Chicken Chopped Salad with Ginger Dressing. It sound like a healthy choice, no? Not at 940 calories! No salad should pack that great of a caloric punch. And with 2,225 mg of sodium, you'll max out your recommended daily salt limit.
8. Baskin Robbins Fudge Brownie 31 Below. Who knew that vanilla soft serve, brownie and hot fudge blended together could equal 970 calories and 47 grams of fat? And that's just for the small portion. Don't ask about the large size (1900 calories, 80 grams of fat (with 39 grams of saturated fat) and 225 grams of sugar). You're safer sticking to a plain old soft serve cone or cup.
9. Sbarro Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza. Wow. Only one slice of this pizza pie will weigh you down with 960 calories and 3,200 mg of sodium! Don't even think about going back for seconds!
10. Romano's Macaroni Grill Parmesan Crusted Sole. Fish is a healthy choice, right? Not so with this breaded and fried dish. Topping out at over 2,000 calories, almost 3,000 mg of sodium and 141 grams of fat, it does some serious diet damage.
