For American consumers, fried fast-food has long been the poster child for unhealthy eating. And if there’s one item that stands in for the entire category it is the Big Mac from McDonald’s.
But what if a Big Mac were a less-bad choice than, say, a salad? Or even a better choice than 100 popular salads? That’s entirely possible if the salad contains high-fat, high-cholesterol ingredients like processed meats, cheese, and creamy dressings, according to a report from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
The group assessed the nutritional data on sales from more than a dozen restaurants and compared the results to the content of a Big Mac that delivers 550 calories, 29 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol and 970 milligrams of salt.
Not only did the Physicians Committee find more than 100 salad offerings that are worse for people than a Big Mac, they found one that is worse than two Big Macs. A Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Salad contains 1,430 calories, 96 grams of fat, 28 grams of saturated fat, 175 milligrams of cholesterol and 2,620 milligrams of salt. Here’s a photo of the salad in a take-out container.
A quick glance through the list of these salads shows that 25 are sold at California Pizza Kitchen restaurants. Friendly’s serves 11 of the worse-than-a-Big-Mac salads while Applebee’s and Carrabba’s account for nine each.
Here’s the list of all 100 salads.
Calories | Fat (g) | Saturated Fat (g) | Cholesterol (mg) | Sodium (mg) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Food Item: Big Mac | |||||
550 | 29 | 10 | 75 | 970 | |
1. Applebee’s Fiesta Chicken Chopped Salad, Regular | |||||
900 | 45 | 11 | 95 | 1670 | |
2. Applebee’s Fried Chicken Salad, Regular | |||||
1120 | 77 | 21 | 360 | 2590 | |
3. Applebee’s Green Goddess Wedge Salad | |||||
550 | 52 | 11 | 55 | 1330 | |
4. Applebee’s Grilled Chicken Caesar, Regular | |||||
800 | 57 | 12 | 165 | 1640 | |
5. Applebee’s Grilled Shrimp ‘N Spinach Salad, Regular | |||||
1000 | 66 | 10 | 195 | 2990 | Highest Sodium |
6. Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad, Regular | |||||
1400 | 99 | 15 | 60 | 1630 | |
7. Applebee’s Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad, Half | |||||
680 | 41 | 6 | 60 | 1540 | |
8. Applebee’s Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad, Regular | |||||
1290 | 82 | 12 | 120 | 2160 | |
9. Applebee’s Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad, Regular | |||||
1340 | 80 | 16 | 95 | 2630 | |
10. Bob Evans Cobb Salad (no dressing) | |||||
517 | 31 | 17 | 318 | 1679 | |
11. Bob Evans Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad (no dressing) | |||||
618 | 36 | 13 | 121 | 1463 | |
12. Bob Evans Wildfire Fried Chicken Salad (no dressing) | |||||
712 | 34 | 9 | 89 | 1193 | |
13. California Pizza Kitchen’s California Cobb Salad with Bleu Cheese Dressing and Beets, Full | |||||
1070 | 85 | 20 | 335 | 1750 | |
14. California Pizza Kitchen’s California Cobb Salad with Bleu Cheese Dressing, Full | |||||
1030 | 85 | 20 | 335 | 1680 | |
15. California Pizza Kitchen’s California Cobb Salad with Ranch Dressing and Beets, Full | |||||
940 | 72 | 15 | 315 | 1600 | |
16. California Pizza Kitchen’s California Cobb Salad with Ranch Dressing, Full | |||||
900 | 72 | 15 | 315 | 1530 | |
17. California Pizza Kitchen’s Caramelized Peach Salad, Full | |||||
900 | 62 | 13 | 50 | 980 | |
18. California Pizza Kitchen’s Caramelized Peach Salad, Full with Grilled Chicken Breast | |||||
1100 | 67 | 15 | 145 | 1150 | |
19. California Pizza Kitchen’s Caramelized Peach Salad, Full with Grilled Shrimp | |||||
960 | 63 | 14 | 120 | 1380 | |
20. California Pizza Kitchen’s Caramelized Peach Salad, Full with Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon | |||||
960 | 67 | 15 | 55 | 1230 | |
21. California Pizza Kitchen’s Caramelized Peach Salad, Full with Sautéed Salmon | |||||
1220 | 88 | 17 | 95 | 1120 | |
22. California Pizza Kitchen’s Caramelized Peach Salad, Half with Grilled Chicken Breast | |||||
650 | 36 | 8 | 120 | 660 | |
23. California Pizza Kitchen’s Chinese Chicken Salad, Full | |||||
790 | 36 | 5 | 30 | 2650 | |
24. California Pizza Kitchen’s Classic Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast, Full | |||||
730 | 45 | 13 | 155 | 970 | |
25. California Pizza Kitchen’s Classic Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp, Full | |||||
590 | 40 | 12 | 135 | 1200 | |
26. California Pizza Kitchen’s Classic Caesar Salad with Sautéed Salmon, Full | |||||
850 | 66 | 15 | 110 | 940 | |
27. California Pizza Kitchen’s Classic Caesar Salad with Sautéed Salmon, Full | |||||
990 | 75 | 16 | 115 | 1490 | |
28. California Pizza Kitchen’s Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Salad, Full | |||||
1500 | 99 | 10 | 295 | 1380 | Highest Calories |
29. California Pizza Kitchen’s Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Salad, Half | |||||
750 | 50 | 5 | 145 | 690 | |
30. California Pizza Kitchen’s Original BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad, Full with Avocado | |||||
1250 | 81 | 19 | 110 | 1800 | |
31. California Pizza Kitchen’s Original BBQ Chicken Chopped, Half with Avocado | |||||
710 | 48 | 11 | 55 | 930 | |
32. California Pizza Kitchen’s Original BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad, Full | |||||
1090 | 66 | 17 | 110 | 1800 | |
33. California Pizza Kitchen’s Roasted Veggie Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast, Full | |||||
910 | 58 | 6 | 95 | 1080 | |
34. California Pizza Kitchen’s Roasted Veggie Salad with Grilled Shrimp, Full | |||||
770 | 53 | 5 | 70 | 1310 | |
35. California Pizza Kitchen’s Roasted Veggie Salad with Sautéed Salmon, Full | |||||
1040 | 79 | 8 | 45 | 1050 | |
36. California Pizza Kitchen’s Thai Crunch Salad with Avocado, Full | |||||
1460 | 97 | 12 | 40 | 1570 | |
37. California Pizza Kitchen’s Thai Crunch Salad, Full | |||||
1290 | 83 | 9 | 40 | 1560 | |
38. California Pizza Kitchen’s Waldorf Chicken Salad, Full | |||||
1230 | 87 | 18 | 100 | 1860 | |
39. Carabba’s Italian Cobb Salad with Chicken and Light Balsamic Vinaigrette | |||||
594 | 38 | 11 | 110 | 1383 | |
40. Carrabba’s Caesar Salad | |||||
612 | 55 | 11 | 41 | 974 | |
41. Carrabba’s Caesar Salad with Chicken | |||||
791 | 59 | 12 | 125 | 1513 | |
42. Carrabba’s Caesar Salad with Shrimp | |||||
712 | 57 | 11 | 252 | 2064 | |
43. Carrabba’s Italian Cobb Salad with Chicken | |||||
594 | 38 | 11 | 110 | 1383 | |
44. Carrabba’s Johnny Rocco Salad | |||||
592 | 44 | 8 | 220 | 2148 | |
45. Carrabba’s Mediterranean Salad with Salmon | |||||
893 | 71 | 12 | 121 | 1303 | |
46. Carrabba’s Mediterranean Salad with Salmon and Light Balsamic Vinaigrette | |||||
673 | 45 | 7 | 110 | 1142 | |
47. Carrabba’s Seasonal Salad: Harvest Salad with Chicken and Light Balsamic Vinaigrette | |||||
604 | 30 | 10 | 128 | 1610 | |
48. Chili’s Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad | |||||
1040 | 72 | 15 | 140 | 3470 | |
49. Chili’s Caribbean Salad w/ Grilled Chicken | |||||
720 | 28 | 4.5 | 110 | 1170 | |
50. Chili’s Caribbean Salad w/ Seared Shrimp | |||||
620 | 26 | 4 | 145 | 1460 | |
51. Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Salad | |||||
1430 | 96 | 28 | 175 | 2620 | Worse than 2 Big Macs in all categories |
52. Chili’s Santa Fe Chicken Salad | |||||
690 | 48 | 9 | 120 | 1720 | |
53. Classic Wedge Salad | |||||
620 | 59 | 15 | not listed | 1140 | |
54. Denny’s Avocado Chicken Caesar Salad | |||||
660 | 49 | 10 | 140 | 1860 | |
55. Denny’s Avocado Salmon Caesar Salad | |||||
860 | 72 | 16 | 155 | 1470 | |
56. Denny’s Fried Chicken Strips Cobb Salad | |||||
930 | 50 | 14 | 365 | 1810 | |
57. Denny’s Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad | |||||
660 | 37 | 11 | 385 | 1560 | |
58. Denny’s Prime Rib Cobb Salad | |||||
630 | 46 | 14 | 330 | 1210 | |
59. Friendly’s Apple Harvest Chicken Salad- Light Balsamic Dressing | |||||
560 | 33 | 9 | 110 | 2590 | |
60. Friendly’s Asian Chicken Salad- Ginger Sesame Dressing | |||||
750 | 33 | 5 | 280 | 1240 | |
61. Friendly’s Boca Burger Salad- 1000 Island Dressing | |||||
920 | 66 | 17 | 60 | 2310 | |
62. Friendly’s Burger Salad – 1000 Island Dressing | |||||
1000 | 76 | 21 | 140 | 1990 | |
63. Friendly’s Caesar Salad- Caesar Dressing | |||||
720 | 56 | 15 | 50 | 1820 | |
64. Friendly’s Crispy Chicken Salad -Honey Mustard Dressing | |||||
1020 | 69 | 16 | 280 | 1370 | |
65. Friendly’s Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad- Caesar Dressing | |||||
880 | 61 | 16 | 140 | 2770 | |
66. Friendly’s Grilled Chicken Salad- Honey Mustard Dressing | |||||
830 | 54 | 13 | 330 | 1650 | |
67. Friendly’s Spinach Salad w/ GR Salmon- Warm Bacon Dressing | |||||
940 | 68 | 11 | 280 | 2140 | |
68. Friendly’s Spinach Salad w/ GR TRKY TIPS- Warm Bacon Dressing | |||||
890 | 59 | 10 | 260 | 1970 | |
69. Friendly’s Turkey Burger Salad- 1000 Island Dressing | |||||
990 | 80 | 21 | 130 | 2450 | |
70. Friendly’s Turkey Tip & Avocado Salad- Bleu Cheese Dressing | |||||
890 | 64 | 19 | 150 | 1440 | |
71. Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad (WITHOUT DRESSING) | |||||
590 | 39 | 14 | not listed | 1230 | |
72. IHOP’s Chicken & Spinach Salad w/Crispy Chicken | |||||
1280 | 80 | 24 | 370 | 2450 | |
73. IHOP’s Chicken & Spinach Salad w/Grilled Chicken | |||||
1030 | 69 | 22 | 395 | 2150 | |
74. IHOP’s Citrus Chicken Pecan Salad | |||||
660 | 42 | 6 | 95 | 1070 | |
75. IHOP’s Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad | |||||
1270 | 96 | 28 | 590 | 2980 | |
76. IHOP’s Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad w/ Avocado | |||||
1350 | 104 | 29 | 590 | 2980 | Highest fat and saturated fat |
77. IHOP’s Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad w/Grilled Chicken | |||||
1130 | 89 | 27 | 635 | 2880 | Highest cholesterol |
78. IHOP’s Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad | |||||
800 | 57 | 14 | 150 | 1910 | |
79. Longhorn Steakhouse Caesar Salad with Sirloin | |||||
690 | 49 | 12 | 135 | 1400 | |
80. Longhorn Steakhouse Grilled Chicken, Beefsteak Tomato and Bacon | |||||
1030 | 72 | 19 | 195 | 1990 | |
81. Longhorn Steakhouse Grilled Salmon Salad (Caesar) | |||||
760 | 55 | 11 | 125 | 1250 | |
82. On The Border’s Grande Taco Salad- Chicken Tinga w/o Dressing | |||||
780 | 45 | 14 | not listed | 1950 | |
83. On The Border’s Grande Taco Salad- Ground Beef w/o Dressing | |||||
870 | 55 | 18 | not listed | 2020 | |
84. On The Border’s Tex-Mex Cobb Salad w/Avocado Ranch Dressing | |||||
800 | 54 | 16 | not listed | 1380 | |
85. Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cobb Salad, Crispy Chicken | |||||
850 | 52 | 24 | 111 | 1512 | |
86. Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cobb Salad, Grilled Chicken | |||||
525 | 25 | 11 | 123 | 1062 | |
87. Outback Steakhouse BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad | |||||
711 | 37 | 8 | 126 | 1534 | |
88. Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad | |||||
664 | 47 | 13 | 20 | 1305 | |
89. Outback Steakhouse Steakhouse Salad, Steak | |||||
950 | 66 | 18 | 91 | 1485 | |
90. Outback Steakhouse Steakhouse Salad, Steak | |||||
660 | 39 | 16 | 315 | 1500 | |
91. Perkins Restaurant and Bakery’s Chicken & Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing | |||||
970 | 66 | 14 | 330 | 2400 | |
92. Perkins Restaurant and Bakery’s Honey Mustard Chicken Crunch Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing | |||||
1220 | 79 | 21 | 160 | 2320 | |
93. Red Lobster’s Classic Caesar with Chicken | |||||
660 | 53 | 10 | not listed | 1400 | |
94. Red Lobster’s Classic Caesar with Salmon | |||||
810 | 66 | 13 | not listed | 1610 | |
95. Red Lobster’s Classic Caesar with Shrimp | |||||
640 | 53 | 10 | not listed | 1880 | |
96. Seasonal Salad: Harvest Salad with Chicken | |||||
736 | 47 | 13 | 135 | 1685 | |
97. Seasonal Salad: Harvest Salad with Sirloin Skewer | |||||
733 | 53 | 16 | 84 | 1339 | |
98. Seasonal Salad: Harvest Salad with Sirloin Skewer and Light Balsamic Vinaigrette | |||||
600 | 36 | 13 | 76 | 1263 | |
99. TGI Friday’s Chipotle Yucatan Chicken Salad | |||||
840 | 60 | 21 | not listed | 1560 | |
100. TGI Friday’s Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad (add choice of dressing) | |||||
590 | 39 | 14 | not listed | 1230 | |
101. TGI Friday’s Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad | |||||
1080 | 71 | 16 | not listed | 1650 |
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