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Many chain restaurants are evasive about the fat and calorie count in their meals. They fight to hide what the nutritional value of their dishes really are. Here are some shocking facts.
Last week citizen journalist cgull wrote about what was the worst food in America.
It made me wonder just what else was there to know about the chain restaurant's food. I found that many of the chain restaurants provide one-third of all restaurant meals.
Yahoo's MensHealth wrote Through scientific testing, consultations with nutrition experts, and good old-fashioned snooping, we uncovered some of the secrets these mega-restaurateurs have been keeping.
Let's take a look at some of the popular chains.
T.G.I. Friday’s has made a policy of not letting their customers know what the nutritional impact is on them from some of their popular dishes. Two of their major competitors such as Chili’s and Ruby Tuesday’s does let you know. However new legislation in New York City now makes the chains that have 15 or more restaurants nationwide provide what the calorie count is on all dishes and drinks that are on their menus.
Since I am a Red Hat Queen I have a friend who always says to me when he is going to tell me something shocking "Hold onto your Red Hat"
I love T.G.I. Friday’s Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad which should be a good choice. Right? That salad has 1,360 calories in it! Their Potato Skins have 2,270 calories and the Double-Stack Quesadillas have 1,670 calories.
Red Robin, do you love those BIG burgers? So far they have not posted the nutritional information yet. When they were contacted Red Robin's senior vice president said the information would be available in Oct of 2007. The information is now on this Web site
My favorite the Teriyaki Chicken Burger has (900 cal/47g fat/3g fiber/65g carbs/55g protein)
Hey but it is not as bad as the Whiskey River BBQ Burger which has(1169 cal/72g fat/5g fiber/77g carbs/49g protein)
Applebee's, a popular chain would rather that you didn't know that many of their "low-fat" dishes have more than 500 calories. Their low-fat chicken quesadillas have 742 calories for each order.
Panera Bread, a favorite of many, as you can take your computers there and check all those emails while munching away. Ouch, gee will you stop talking to me before I scream at you. Well the problem is they do not want you to know that the synthetic food colorings in their pastries have been linked to irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbance in children.
Those same ingredients are in fast-food items such as mayonnaise, M&M Blizzards, and McDonald's. NO not the Blizzards!!! I am going to scream now not because it has made me irritable but, well, it just irritates me that those types of ingredients are there.
Baskin-Robbins too! Gee sometimes I take a book and go in there before I go grocery shopping and sit and read for awhile and get a dish of one of my favorites, Baseball Nut. You don't want to shop on an empty stomach, ya know. I just looked to see what was said about that flavor.
It says that it has 280 calories and the calories from fat are 130. Well not as bad as that delicious chicken salad.
They would rather that you don't know though, that the top four ingredients in its Blue Raspberry Fruit Blast are Sierra Mist soda, water, sugar, and corn syrup.
Going to Dunkin' Donuts? Hey get a medium-size fruit-and-yogurt smoothie, much better than that delicious chocolate-frosted cake doughnut for sure. Well isn't it? Of course not!!
This article isn't about what is good for you, now is it? Well that little smoothie has at least 60 grams of sugar!! Which is more than four times the amount of the sugar in that doughnut.
The fruit purees that they use in the smoothies are mixed with a lot of sugar and/or high-fructose corn syrup.
OK time to list a restaurant that I don't go to as I am getting very depressed here.
Let's pick on IHOP. Now they don't want you to know that when you have an Omelette Feast that it has 1,335 calories and 35 grams of saturated fat. They certainly don't want you to know that by the time you finish that baby off you'll have consumed 150 percent of your daily fat requirement and 300 percent of your suggested cholesterol intake. Oh my, I don't think that is very good, do you?
Well anyway, the sit-down chains don't want you to know that a lot of their menu items are many times worse for you than the fast-food chains. When the menus were analyzed the 24 national chain's average entree contained 867 calories and the fast-food's entree was only
522 calories. But one thing to keep in mind that was for the entree alone. Now if you decide to add an appetizer, a side dish or two, and/or a dessert — well I think by now you get the picture.
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We only eat at restaurants when out of town, at home, home is where we eat. I am a good cook and enjoy preparing food plus I know what is in it. Great post, thanks
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And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall diet.
Isaiah 22:13 (it doesn't say that--but it should) ;o)
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It's always so iffy eating out! I tend to share a plate with one of the kids if I can otherwise I just close my eyes and enjoy.
I wonder if my fav Japanese places are loaded with calories?
I know that my favorite desert is triple chocolate but I do the cheat thingy so there are no calories for me...........have someone else order it and eat a few bites *g* cause ya know if you're just having a bite off of a loved one's plate there are no calories involved.
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@ KJ (momentsintime)
It's always so iffy eating out! I tend to share a plate with one of the kids if I can otherwise I just close my eyes and enjoy.
I wonder if my fav Japanese places are loaded with calories?
I know that my favorite desert is triple chocolate but I do the cheat thingy so there are no calories for me...........have someone else order it and eat a few bites *g* cause ya know if you're just having a bite off of a loved one's plate there are no calories involved.
Japanese places? It all depends on what you eat. Fat is fat. You're not going to lose much weight stuffing yourself with tempura.
That said, listening to many dietists, it's really easy: replace butter with olive oil because olive oil is a good fat and hence, it does not make you fat. Very good advice for someone looking to becoming very obese very fast! -
@ Bob Ewing
We only eat at restaurants when out of town, at home, home is where we eat. I am a good cook and enjoy preparing food plus I know what is in it. Great post, thanks
Thanks Bob.
I also enjoy cooking but also enjoy eating out.
I have a circle of friends that all like going out to eat. -
@ lensman67
And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall diet.
Isaiah 22:13 (it doesn't say that--but it should) ;o)
Good to see you lensman.
Unfortunately the way that you wrote the Bible verse is all too true or should be after indulging in some of those entrees. -
@ KJ (momentsintime)
It's always so iffy eating out! I tend to share a plate with one of the kids if I can otherwise I just close my eyes and enjoy.
I wonder if my fav Japanese places are loaded with calories?
I know that my favorite desert is triple chocolate but I do the cheat thingy so there are no calories for me...........have someone else order it and eat a few bites *g* cause ya know if you're just having a bite off of a loved one's plate there are no calories involved.
Funny Moments.
If part of the food is taken home maybe those calories that are eaten at home won't count either, or that piece of pie from Bakers Square that I did bring home today after having lunch with some friends? -
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
Japanese places? It all depends on what you eat. Fat is fat. You're not going to lose much weight stuffing yourself with tempura.
That said, listening to many dietists, it's really easy: replace butter with olive oil because olive oil is a good fat and hence, it does not make you fat. Very good advice for someone looking to becoming very obese very fast!
If I remember correctly the main reason for using olive oil is that it is better for you. But as with any fat if one consumes too much, well it might be wise to follow the verse that lensman misquoted. :-) -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
If I remember correctly the main reason for using olive oil is that it is better for you. But as with any fat if one consumes too much, well it might be wise to follow the verse that lensman misquoted. :-) Yes, that is why it is called a "good fat". But what I said about dietists is true. Not for all of them, one would sincerely hope, but for quite a few, unhindered as they are by any real knowledge. A year or two ago, on CityTV in Toronto, they had a program in which the resident dietist was giving "advice". It was about "Foods that make you fat". She was asked something like "Do nuts make you fat?" Her answer: "NO!!! They do indeed contain fat, but GOOD fats." Obviously, she was mixing up "good for you" and "bad for you" with "fattening" and "not fattening".
The same genius also declared that you should not drink tea or coffee to hydrate yourself, because they contain caffeine, which is a diuretic. She seemed to utterly ignore genuine research that says that this diuretic effect only works in a tiny minority of people, and then usually only people who normally drink no or very little drinks containing caffeine.
To make it more fun still, at the end of the week, she declared that in order to hydrate yourself you could drink anything that contains water, *even coffee and tea*, the opposite of what she had claimed a few days before. I guess she was scolded by someone more knowledgeable after the first program ^_^ -
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
Yes, that is why it is called a "good fat". But what I said about dietists is true. Not for all of them, one would sincerely hope, but for quite a few, unhindered as they are by any real knowledge. A year or two ago, on CityTV in Toronto, they had a program in which the resident dietist was giving "advice". It was about "Foods that make you fat". She was asked something like "Do nuts make you fat?" Her answer: "NO!!! They do indeed contain fat, but GOOD fats." Obviously, she was mixing up "good for you" and "bad for you" with "fattening" and "not fattening".
The same genius also declared that you should not drink tea or coffee to hydrate yourself, because they contain caffeine, which is a diuretic. She seemed to utterly ignore genuine research that says that this diuretic effect only works in a tiny minority of people, and then usually only people who normally drink no or very little drinks containing caffeine.
To make it more fun still, at the end of the week, she declared that in order to hydrate yourself you could drink anything that contains water, *even coffee and tea*, the opposite of what she had claimed a few days before. I guess she was scolded by someone more knowledgeable after the first program ^_^
Sounds a little like the main cook at a Howard Johnsons that I worked at for a short time when I was in my twenties as a waitress.
When I told her that she was incorrect about two teaspoons making a tablespoon that there were three to a tablespoon she just kept laughing at me and saying that was why I must be a lousy cook.
She made fun of me for a few days until I had her either measure or I brought in proof I can't recall which it was now. -
Thanks for whoever put the picture up. :-)
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Call me silly, but when I go out to eat, taste is all that matters to me.
Maybe that is why my doctor is getting on me about my mid-section?
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Not knowing the calorie count is still 'palatable' to not know knowing the so called secret ingredients!
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@ LewWaters
Call me silly, but when I go out to eat, taste is all that matters to me.
Maybe that is why my doctor is getting on me about my mid-section?
Taste is the first thing that I want but I have changed my way of thinking somewhat of what my "wants" are. :-) I now try to avoid deep fried foods, including fries.
@ Saikat Basu (Maverick)
Not knowing the calorie count is still 'palatable' to not know knowing the so called secret ingredients!
Anything "secret" is usually not a good thing. Always makes one suspicious as to what are they trying to hide. -
Known for some time our fav sitdown chain is worse than our fast food favs. Now the figures are coming in. Anyone like us who has been on a weight watchers type diet can tell roughly what the calorie count of their plate is, and lots of "good" restaurants have horrible figures (and make horrible figures ;o)
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@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
Sounds a little like the main cook at a Howard Johnsons that I worked at for a short time when I was in my twenties as a waitress.
When I told her that she was incorrect about two teaspoons making a tablespoon that there were three to a tablespoon she just kept laughing at me and saying that was why I must be a lousy cook.
She made fun of me for a few days until I had her either measure or I brought in proof I can't recall which it was now. The owner of a restaurant I have worked more than 20 years ago, was convinced that ice expands when it thaws. The man was an intellectual mirror: he absorbed nothing at all. His example did teach me a very important lesson, however, and that is that intellectual capacities and/or interests do not seem to be a requirement if one wants to achieve financial success. -
@ tonystep
Known for some time our fav sitdown chain is worse than our fast food favs. Now the figures are coming in. Anyone like us who has been on a weight watchers type diet can tell roughly what the calorie count of their plate is, and lots of "good" restaurants have horrible figures (and make horrible figures ;o) The problem with sitdowns is that their cooking is far less standardized than most fastfoods. A hamburger is easy to standardize, but try to do the same with steak. Because of that, the calorie content varies wildly and standardized calories counts are something of a joke. -
Sometimes it almost seems intellect gets in the way of making money.
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@ tonystep
Known for some time our fav sitdown chain is worse than our fast food favs. Now the figures are coming in. Anyone like us who has been on a weight watchers type diet can tell roughly what the calorie count of their plate is, and lots of "good" restaurants have horrible figures (and make horrible figures ;o)
True Tony.
Sometimes I want to just say "Don"t tell me!!!!!"
Can't I enjoy anything without constantly worrying about calories.
But then I stop and think about two grandchildren getting married this year. One in July and one in August. Sure would be nice to be able to drop a few pounds and the way to do that is be aware of those calories. -
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
The owner of a restaurant I have worked more than 20 years ago, was convinced that ice expands when it thaws. The man was an intellectual mirror: he absorbed nothing at all. His example did teach me a very important lesson, however, and that is that intellectual capacities and/or interests do not seem to be a requirement if one wants to achieve financial success.
Maybe just be good at following someones rules and never be required to think for yourself. -
@ tonystep
Sometimes it almost seems intellect gets in the way of making money. Indeed. I also think that it is a logical consequence. When one knows too much, one knows what can go wrong too well.
I have seen that very well when I was still peddling my software, in Belgium. Although I despised it, I also somehow admired the arrogant self-confidence with which total ignoramuses were selling software that didn't work. My software was so much better that it wasn't even funny. But I just couldn't project the same confidence in the absolute infallibility and limitless possibilities. One can't control everything, after all, but these "experts" who didn't even know that computers were binary, they spouted the most incredible nonsense, I just couldn't. -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
Maybe just be good at following someones rules and never be required to think for yourself.
That would drive me batty. -
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
The problem with sitdowns is that their cooking is far less standardized than most fastfoods. A hamburger is easy to standardize, but try to do the same with steak. Because of that, the calorie content varies wildly and standardized calories counts are something of a joke.
For sitdowns a lot can also depend on who is preparing the food on a given day. How much mayonnaise is added to pasta or tuna salads. How much mayonnaise is spread on a sandwich etc -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
For sitdowns a lot can also depend on who is preparing the food on a given day. How much mayonnaise is added to pasta or tuna salads. How much mayonnaise is spread on a sandwich etc Precisely. These things are far more rigorous in fastfood joints. -
and how much money they can save by using lower quality food
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@ 666divine
That would drive me batty.
But for many it is easier.
That is why things happen like the report that mirrorwarp made about the woman being fired for giving a cranky child a timbit.
Following the rules is the best why most of the time but there are times when a rule doesn't fit the occasion. -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
But for many it is easier.
That is why things happen like the report that mirrorwarp made about the woman being fired for giving a cranky child a timbit.
Following the rules is the best why most of the time but there are times when a rule doesn't fit the occasion. Absolutely. And it is this rigorous following of useless rules that, for the most part, earns civil servants their bad name. -
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
Precisely. These things are far more rigorous in fastfood joints.
Yes everything is carefully weighed and measured.
Except all restaurants seem to put enough mayonnaise on a sandwich to take care of everyones sandwich in the whole building. -
Mayo galore in my Mac(when i forget to specify none). Drives me nuts.
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@ tonystep
Mayo galore in my Mac(when i forget to specify none). Drives me nuts.
I forget too often to say no mayo or mayo on the side.
I have taken a knife and scraped off enough to put on six to a dozen sandwiches. -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
Yes everything is carefully weighed and measured.
Except all restaurants seem to put enough mayonnaise on a sandwich to take care of everyones sandwich in the whole building. Yep. I don't tolerate may, except on one and only one thing: French Fries. I am a Belgian. A container of French fries topped with a swimming pool of mayo makes me happy ^_^ -
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
Yep. I don't tolerate may, except on one and only one thing: French Fries. I am a Belgian. A container of French fries topped with a swimming pool of mayo makes me happy ^_^
Oh my goodness I have never heard of that!!! Mayo on fries??
I don't eat fries very often for several reasons. One is because I want lots of salt on my fries which isn't very good for the blood pressure. -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
Oh my goodness I have never heard of that!!! Mayo on fries??
I don't eat fries very often for several reasons. One is because I want lots of salt on my fries which isn't very good for the blood pressure. That is the Belgian way, and it is the only way I still like mayo. I eat it very rarely though. Maybe once ever 2 years or so. If that. -
Great post Cynthia. Only the fast food restaurants gets the blame, now we know almost everyone is to be blamed.
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Verrrrrrrrry interesting!! And how unfortunate! Part of me wants to know how much I am consuming, but the other part is like...well....not really. I think of going out to eat as sort of a "vacation" for my stomach. And let's be honest here, who really watches what they eat on vacation? Sometimes I'd rather not know what I'm eating so I don't feel so bad while I'm eating it. Also, I'd almost rather not see the calorie numbers on the menus because I'd be looking at those big numbers instead of what the food dish really is.
Looks like I'll be having a lot of tossed salads with low-fat Italian dressing in the future... haha, yeah right.
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@ Julybug
Verrrrrrrrry interesting!! And how unfortunate! Part of me wants to know how much I am consuming, but the other part is like...well....not really. I think of going out to eat as sort of a "vacation" for my stomach. And let's be honest here, who really watches what they eat on vacation? Sometimes I'd rather not know what I'm eating so I don't feel so bad while I'm eating it. Also, I'd almost rather not see the calorie numbers on the menus because I'd be looking at those big numbers instead of what the food dish really is.
Looks like I'll be having a lot of tossed salads with low-fat Italian dressing in the future... haha, yeah right.
Welcome to DJ Julybug. I am sure that you will enjoy it even though it can get crazy around here.
Sometimes when going out to eat calories should be watched, well maybe :-), but other times to heck with it.
I have a couple of favorite restaurants with favorite foods. Those I don't want to know the calorie count. -
I agree 100% with the favorite restaurant statement...
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Our fav outing is Olive Garden. We know it's horrible health wise, but we go very seldom. Got a kick out of all the restaurants sweating bricks when threatened with stating their contents. I agree - it won't make much difference, but it might cause some of them to try harder to serve as healthy food as they can within their economic bottom line. Could use some "healthy competition", to play a poor pun.
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@ JulybugLooks like I'll be having a lot of tossed salads with low-fat Italian dressing in the future... haha, yeah right. That's the problem. No matter what, we are not rabbits and not cows. -
@ tonystep
Our fav outing is Olive Garden. We know it's horrible health wise, but we go very seldom. Got a kick out of all the restaurants sweating bricks when threatened with stating their contents. I agree - it won't make much difference, but it might cause some of them to try harder to serve as healthy food as they can within their economic bottom line. Could use some "healthy competition", to play a poor pun.
I also like Olive Garden but don't go there very often. The chain restaurants don't want the diners who frequent them to know how many calories that they are consuming.
There are some restaurants though I don't want to know how many calories that I am consuming. Just want to enjoy that Grown-up Grilled Cheese sandwich at Bakers Square and not know all the details.
@ Bart B. Van Bockstaele
That's the problem. No matter what, we are not rabbits and not cows.
Good reason to not always think that all those boring salads are good for us. :-) -
I think if restaurants start giving information about the calorie content or fat content of dishes,then selling will decrease as people are more concerned about health
Tasty dishes always contain some extra calories.
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Welcome to DJ Anuradha.
There are those who for serious health issues need to know what are the ingredients in their food.
Others that want a good tasty meal can eat a dish occasionally that is high in calories and fat. Just plan the rest of your meals accordingly the rest of the day.
I really do love T.G.I. Friday’s Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad. Will the calorie count stop me the next time I go there? No it won't as it is something that I don't eat that often.
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Restaurants don't want you to know the fat and calorie count of their popular dishes
