In every Eat This, Not That book, the authors rate various restaurants based on nutritional information, or lack thereof. The Best & Worst Foods in America! gave the following grades...
Applebee's: F
We've tried repeatedly to get Applebee's to cough up the nutritional info on their menu items, but they won't deliver. Without full disclosure, we have no choice but to give them a flunking grade. (And while Applebee's takes its sweet time coming clean, we took advantage of New York legislation requiring chain restaurants to publish calorie counts to find out what they're hiding.)
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
The saving grace here is the handful of items created in partnership with Weight Watchers, the only items for which the restaurant offers any nutritional information at all. That doesn't leave you much to choose from, but unless you want to play nutritional Russian roulette, you're better off sticking to this menu.
Best: Garlic Herb Chicken
Worst: Oriental Chicken Rollup
Burger King: C
We got word from Burger King in October 2008 that they were finally removing the trans fat from their deep fryer. Excellent news, but don't think that means BK's menu is completely sans trans fat. The burgers and Whoppers are still sullied with the dangerous oils. Plus BK likes to smear 160 calories' worth of mayonnaise on just about everything, so you'd better get used to asking for your sandwich without. The unhealthiest of the Big Three burger joints.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
For breakfast, pick the Ham Omelet Sandwich. For lunch, match the regular hamburger, the Whopper Jr., or the Tendergrill Sandwich with Apple Fries and water and you'll escape for less than 500 calories.
Best: Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich without Mayo
Worst: Triple Whopper Sandwich with Cheese
To be continued...
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
I thought this was really fascinating from a Hungry Girl newsletter this week.
Tips on Shelf-Preservation!
Ever find yourself standing at the fridge, sniffing some food item and wondering, "Is this still okay to eat? It SMELLS okay... but maybe it's not." Quit the game-play. If you want some tips on food storage, expiration vs. sell-by dates, kitchen safety, etc., go to ShelfLifeAdvice.com NOW. It's a REALLY useful resource that can help protect you from eating icky, spoiled food AND save you cash by keeping that food from spoiling in the first place. We're sooooo behind that. "How long do bacon bits last?" (Four months in the pantry!) "Has my baking powder gone bad?" (If it doesn't bubble in hot water, it has!) "How long can I wait before I need to get rid of this old jar of jelly?" (If it's more than a month old, believe it or not, it could be time!) ShelfLifeAdvice.com ROCKS. And FUN NEWS BREAK: Scientists in India say they've discovered a way to produce tomatoes that stay fresh a month longer. YOWSA! That's an extra 30 days you get to hang out with your tomato pal before chomping on it. Weeeee!
Tips on Shelf-Preservation!
Ever find yourself standing at the fridge, sniffing some food item and wondering, "Is this still okay to eat? It SMELLS okay... but maybe it's not." Quit the game-play. If you want some tips on food storage, expiration vs. sell-by dates, kitchen safety, etc., go to ShelfLifeAdvice.com NOW. It's a REALLY useful resource that can help protect you from eating icky, spoiled food AND save you cash by keeping that food from spoiling in the first place. We're sooooo behind that. "How long do bacon bits last?" (Four months in the pantry!) "Has my baking powder gone bad?" (If it doesn't bubble in hot water, it has!) "How long can I wait before I need to get rid of this old jar of jelly?" (If it's more than a month old, believe it or not, it could be time!) ShelfLifeAdvice.com ROCKS. And FUN NEWS BREAK: Scientists in India say they've discovered a way to produce tomatoes that stay fresh a month longer. YOWSA! That's an extra 30 days you get to hang out with your tomato pal before chomping on it. Weeeee!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I tried this recipe the other day and it was so delicious! I used two smaller dishes instead of one big one so we could eat it twice :) YUM!
Three-Cheese Macaroni
(courtesy Food Network Magazine)
Serves 6
1 large egg
1 12 oz can evaporated whole milk
pinch of cayenne pepper
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
salt and pepper
1 1/3 c grated muenster cheese, plus 4 slices
1/2 c grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
4 c medium pasta shells
1. Whisk the egg, evaporated milk, cayenne, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Toss the grated cheeses in a separate bowl.
2.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook until almost falling apart, about 7 minutes. Transfer with a slotted soon to a bowl. Add the pasta to the same water and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/4 c cooking water. Preheat the broiler.
3. Combine the egg mixture and the grated cheeses in the empty pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheeses melt and the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and add the cauliflower. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth and light (you can also use a regular blender). Stir in some of the reserved pasta water until creamy. Toss the pasta in the sauce; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a shallow casserole dish and top with muenster slices. Broil until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Three-Cheese Macaroni
(courtesy Food Network Magazine)
Serves 6
1 large egg
1 12 oz can evaporated whole milk
pinch of cayenne pepper
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
salt and pepper
1 1/3 c grated muenster cheese, plus 4 slices
1/2 c grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
4 c medium pasta shells
1. Whisk the egg, evaporated milk, cayenne, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Toss the grated cheeses in a separate bowl.
2.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook until almost falling apart, about 7 minutes. Transfer with a slotted soon to a bowl. Add the pasta to the same water and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/4 c cooking water. Preheat the broiler.
3. Combine the egg mixture and the grated cheeses in the empty pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheeses melt and the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and add the cauliflower. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth and light (you can also use a regular blender). Stir in some of the reserved pasta water until creamy. Toss the pasta in the sauce; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a shallow casserole dish and top with muenster slices. Broil until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Worst Specialty Burger
Outback Steakhouse Blooming Burger
(1,880 calories)
By fusing one of the worst appetizers in America with an already-bruising line of burgers, the corporate cooks behind this faux-Aussie establishment have birthday a monster of a burger with more calories than 9 Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnuts. With no burger less than 1,530 calories, you'll have to turn to chicken if you want to eat at Outback and not spend the next day on the treadmill.
Worst Bacon Burger
Chili's Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Big Mouth Burger with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
(1,901 calories)
Any burger whose name is 21 syllables long is bound to spell trouble for your waistline. This burger packs almost an entire day's worth of calories and 2.5 days' worth of fat. Chili's burger menu rivals Ruby Tuesday's for the worst in America, so you're better off with one of their reasonable Fajita Pitas to silence your hunger.
Outback Steakhouse Blooming Burger
(1,880 calories)
By fusing one of the worst appetizers in America with an already-bruising line of burgers, the corporate cooks behind this faux-Aussie establishment have birthday a monster of a burger with more calories than 9 Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnuts. With no burger less than 1,530 calories, you'll have to turn to chicken if you want to eat at Outback and not spend the next day on the treadmill.
Worst Bacon Burger
Chili's Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Big Mouth Burger with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
(1,901 calories)
Any burger whose name is 21 syllables long is bound to spell trouble for your waistline. This burger packs almost an entire day's worth of calories and 2.5 days' worth of fat. Chili's burger menu rivals Ruby Tuesday's for the worst in America, so you're better off with one of their reasonable Fajita Pitas to silence your hunger.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Worst Candy
Skittles Original Fruit (1 package)
It's hard to imagine any candy being worse than this. each colored bead is essentially sugar and corn syrup glued together with hydrogenated palm kernel oil.
Worst Cookie
Oreo Cakesters (2 cookies)
Sugar, white flour, and oil - a timeless recipe for bad health. The Cakesters have more than twice as many calories as a Chewy Chips Ahoy!
Worst Candy Bar
Twix (2-ounce package)
Twix takes the already-dubious candy-bar reputation and drags it through a murky pool of saturated fat. it would take 11 strips of bacon to achieve that sort of heart-stopped potential, which makes this one potentially hazardous after-lunch snack.
Skittles Original Fruit (1 package)
It's hard to imagine any candy being worse than this. each colored bead is essentially sugar and corn syrup glued together with hydrogenated palm kernel oil.
Worst Cookie
Oreo Cakesters (2 cookies)
Sugar, white flour, and oil - a timeless recipe for bad health. The Cakesters have more than twice as many calories as a Chewy Chips Ahoy!
Worst Candy Bar
Twix (2-ounce package)
Twix takes the already-dubious candy-bar reputation and drags it through a murky pool of saturated fat. it would take 11 strips of bacon to achieve that sort of heart-stopped potential, which makes this one potentially hazardous after-lunch snack.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Worst Triple Burger
Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich with Cheese and Mayo
This Triple Whopper is triple trouble. You could remove 2 patties and still be looking at more calories than you should tussle with in one sitting. And the fact that it's got more trans fat than you should eat in a day only adds insult to injury. The problem with BK burgers is that not a single one comes without the heart-harming trans-fatty acids, despite their long-standing promise to (someday) make their menu trans fat free. Your best bet when dealing with the King is to choose a chicken sandwich, instead.
Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich with Cheese and Mayo
This Triple Whopper is triple trouble. You could remove 2 patties and still be looking at more calories than you should tussle with in one sitting. And the fact that it's got more trans fat than you should eat in a day only adds insult to injury. The problem with BK burgers is that not a single one comes without the heart-harming trans-fatty acids, despite their long-standing promise to (someday) make their menu trans fat free. Your best bet when dealing with the King is to choose a chicken sandwich, instead.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Worst Fast Food Salad
Wendy's Chicken BLT Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing and Croutons
A little bacon on your salad is one thing, but this bowl of lettuce packs the saturated equivalent of 14 crispy strips of swine. Not the model of health most people bargain for when they opt for a pile of greens. You can improve matters significantly (to the tune of 160 calories and 18 grams of fat) by swapping the recommended Honey Dijon for Balsamic Vinaigrette. Better yet, opt out of this salad entirely and grab the more reasonable Mandarin Chicken Salad. Or a burger; believe it or not, most burgers on Wendy's menu are considerably better for you than this bowl.
Wendy's Chicken BLT Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing and Croutons
A little bacon on your salad is one thing, but this bowl of lettuce packs the saturated equivalent of 14 crispy strips of swine. Not the model of health most people bargain for when they opt for a pile of greens. You can improve matters significantly (to the tune of 160 calories and 18 grams of fat) by swapping the recommended Honey Dijon for Balsamic Vinaigrette. Better yet, opt out of this salad entirely and grab the more reasonable Mandarin Chicken Salad. Or a burger; believe it or not, most burgers on Wendy's menu are considerably better for you than this bowl.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Worst Chicken Entree: Dairy Queen 6-Piece Chicken Strip Basket with Country Gravy
It's amazing how many calories DQ can pack into 6 strips of fatty fried chicken. Don't blame the trans-fatty gravy alone - it only adds about 400 extra calories. This disastrous basket will send your blood pressure soaring with the sodium equivalent of 112 saltine crackers, and it'll drag you down for the rest of the day with its carbohydrate overload.
Eat This Instead: Grilled Flamethrower Chicken Sandwich
It's amazing how many calories DQ can pack into 6 strips of fatty fried chicken. Don't blame the trans-fatty gravy alone - it only adds about 400 extra calories. This disastrous basket will send your blood pressure soaring with the sodium equivalent of 112 saltine crackers, and it'll drag you down for the rest of the day with its carbohydrate overload.
Eat This Instead: Grilled Flamethrower Chicken Sandwich
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Worst Fast-Food Breakfast in America is... *drum roll*
McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast (large-size biscuit) with syrup and margarine
[Anyone surprised?]
This breakfast comes with the works - scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuit, hash browns, you name it. Problem is, it also comes with more than half your day's allotment of calories and an entire day's worth of sodium. It's the caloric equivalent of 4 McDonald's cheeseburgers - can you imagine starting yoru day off like that? embrace the McMuffin, but just steer clear of sausage.
McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast (large-size biscuit) with syrup and margarine
[Anyone surprised?]
This breakfast comes with the works - scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuit, hash browns, you name it. Problem is, it also comes with more than half your day's allotment of calories and an entire day's worth of sodium. It's the caloric equivalent of 4 McDonald's cheeseburgers - can you imagine starting yoru day off like that? embrace the McMuffin, but just steer clear of sausage.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Worst Chocolate Dessert: Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie
Here is empirical evidence that food marketers are making our food worse and worse: In 2008, we listed this chocolate pie as the Worst Dessert in America. In 2009, it doesn't even take the bronze! Yet this hulking slice still packs as many calories as 3 Big Macs. That's right: Nobody would ever consider capping a meal with 3 Macs, so why would they order a slice of this stuff? When choosing dessert at Chili's, the only safe options are the Sweet Shots, drinkable treats with built-in portion control. Avoid the chocolate one, which rings in at 420 calories; any of the others should be fine.
I love me some Chili's, but if you're going to get anything other than the Sweet Shots, just share it!
Here is empirical evidence that food marketers are making our food worse and worse: In 2008, we listed this chocolate pie as the Worst Dessert in America. In 2009, it doesn't even take the bronze! Yet this hulking slice still packs as many calories as 3 Big Macs. That's right: Nobody would ever consider capping a meal with 3 Macs, so why would they order a slice of this stuff? When choosing dessert at Chili's, the only safe options are the Sweet Shots, drinkable treats with built-in portion control. Avoid the chocolate one, which rings in at 420 calories; any of the others should be fine.
I love me some Chili's, but if you're going to get anything other than the Sweet Shots, just share it!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
According to Eat This, Not That: The Best & Worst Foods in America, the best sandwich is Subway's 6" Double Roast Beef with all the fixings on 9 Grain Wheat.
Why double the meat? Because for an extra 50 calories, you get nearly twice as much metabolism-spiking protein, which helps build muscle and burn fat. Plus doubling up on a 6-inch sub will save you 220 calories over the other alternative for hungry sandwich hounds: the dreaded footlong. Get your money's worth by loading up on the free veggies: peppers, olives, onions, tomatoes, and spinach.
Why double the meat? Because for an extra 50 calories, you get nearly twice as much metabolism-spiking protein, which helps build muscle and burn fat. Plus doubling up on a 6-inch sub will save you 220 calories over the other alternative for hungry sandwich hounds: the dreaded footlong. Get your money's worth by loading up on the free veggies: peppers, olives, onions, tomatoes, and spinach.
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