When you go to a restaurant and order your meal, do you know how many calories you’re eating?
A report released on Monday by the Center for Science in the Public Interest has compiled a list of meals from food chain restaurants that have some of the highest calories.
Some of the dishes on the list came from restaurants like The Cheescake Factory, Uno's Pizza and Buffalo Wild Wings. Some meals listed had more than 2,500 calories.
But the National Restaurant Association believes the report is an unfair represntation of the industry.
Desserts Nachos #buffalowildwings pic.twitter.com/n6ypxTOprB
— Surfing To RMFC (@ultimustelum) September 24, 2015
“CSPI’s cherry-picked examples paint an inaccurate picture of the great strides the industry has made in the area of nutrition," spokesman Christin Fernandez said. "America’s one million restaurants provide numerous options to accommodate all types of tastes and diets—diners looking for an occasional indulgence or those that are keeping things light. In fact, our research shows 85 percent of adults agree there are more healthy menu options available compared to two years ago."
A spokeswoman for The Cheesecake Factory called its portions "generous".
“With more than 250 menu items, The Cheesecake Factory has always been about choices. Many of our guests come in and want to celebrate and not be concerned with calories. Others want to share their dish – and we love it when guests share – that’s a great sign that our portions are generous," Alethea Rowe, senior director of public relations at The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated said.
Here's a list of a few of the meals:
Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Whole Hog Burger
Calories: 2,850
Saturated Fat: 62 grams
Sodium: 9,790 milligrams, which is equivalent to six days worth of sodium.
What it is: The meal has hamburger, sausage, bacon, prosciutoo, pepperoni, four types of cheese, garlic mayo and pickles. It comes with fires and onion rings.
What it's like: Eating four McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with Cheese and two medium orders of fries doused with a combined 18 packets of salt.
The Cheesecake Factory: Fried Chicken & Waffles Benedict
Calories: 2,580
Saturated Fat: 86 grams
Sodium: 3,390 milligrams
Sugar: 15 teaspoons
Local
What it is: Belgian waffle topped with fried chicken strips, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce, served with maple-butter syrup and usually a side of breakfast potatoes.
What it's like: Eating two Marie Callender’s one-pound Chicken Pot Pies topped with half a stick of butter and a quarter cup of maple syrup.
[[388856952 , C]]
Dave & Buster's: Short Rib & Cheesy Mac Stack
Calories: 1,910
Saturated Fat: 42 grams
Sodium: 3,390 milligrams
What it is: This sandwich is stuffed with beef short rib and macaroni and cheese and is served with “crispy seasoned tots.”
What it's like: Eating three McDonald’s Big Macs and a medium fries. Dave & Gut Buster’s is more like it.
Short Rib & Cheesy MacStack
— Dave & Buster's CLE (@DaveBustersCLE) November 3, 2015
Tender sliced short rib, creamy mac & sourdough #cleveland #HappyNationalSandwichDay pic.twitter.com/jvEwjwU2bS
Sonic: Rt. 44 Grape Slush with Rainbow Candy
Calories: 970
Sugar: 1 ¼ cups
What it is: 44 ounce icy slush drink made with shippable candy.
What's it like: That’s like downing three XL (40-ounce) Fanta Wild Cherry Slurpees from 7-Eleven.
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Buffalo Wild Wings: Dessert Nachos
Calories: 2,100
Saturated Fat: 64 grams
Trans Fat: 5 grams
What it is: A fried flour tortilla with four scoops of ice cream, sugar, and “gooey breaded cheesecake bites” topped with chocolate and caramel sauce.
What it's like: Eating four Taco Bell Crunchy Tacos (filled with beef and cheese) topped with a 14-ounce container of Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream and two melted Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars.
[[388857322 , C]]
Jersey Mike's Subs: Giant Chipotle Cheese Steak
Calories: 1,850
Saturated Fat: 30 g
Sodium: 4,330 mg
What it is: Grilled steak on 14-inch white-flour roll with melted white American cheese, peppers and onions, drizzled with spicy chipotle mayo.
What it's like: Eating two Subway foot-long roast beef submarines.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill: Cremini Pork Shank
Calories: 1,800
Saturated Fat: 43g
Sodium: 3,700 mg
What it is: Braised pork shank, marsala wine sauce, caramelized onions, mushrooms, roasted parmesan potatoes.
What it's like: Eating two Outback Steakhouse 10 oz. Ribeye Steaks and two sides of seasoned French fries.
[[388857902 , C]]
Applebee’s: Build Your Sampler
Calories: 3,390 calories (1,700 calories per person split between 2 or 850 calories per person split between 4)
Saturated Fat: 65 g
Sodium: 11,650 mg
What it is: Two to five menu appetizers or bar snacks, which include, Cheeseburger Egg Rolls (630 calories), Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip (510 calories), Chicken Quesadilla (610 calories), Boneless Wings with Classic Buffalo Sauce (440 calories + 240 calories bleu cheese dressing), Spinach & Artichoke Dip (960 calories)
What's it like: If split FOUR ways, one serving is equivalent of polishing off an Applebee’s Classic Burger with cheddar cheese (before you even get to the entrée!)
[[388858352 , C]]
Maggiano’s Little Italy - Marco’s Meal for Two
Calories: 2,840 per person
Saturated Fat: 79 g per person
Sodium: 6,390 mg per person
Sugar: 11 teaspoons from Crostada alone
What it is: White flour rolls, choice of appetizer or flatbread, two side salads, two pasta dishes and dessert
The choices include Mozzarella Marinara (1,530 calories), Taylor Street Baked Ziti (1,400 calories), Fettucini Alfredo (1,560 calories) and Warm Apple Crostada (1,180 calories)
Start with Mozzarella Marinara, enjoy Four-Cheese Ravioli, & finish with Cheesecake. It's National #CheeseLoversDay! pic.twitter.com/MySxNzrvgu
— Maggiano's (@Maggianos) January 20, 2016
The full list of the 2016 Xtreme Eating Awards is available on CSPI’s website.
