Special Report

48 Salads That Are Worse Than a Slice of Cheese Pizza

GoodLifeStudio / Getty Images

Waiter serving a large buffet table full of delicious food. Unrecognizable Caucasian male, professional in white apron and uniform. Remember when some iceberg lettuce — maybe with some shredded carrot and a slice of cucumber — and dressing qualified as a salad? Though American cuisine has come a long way since, plenty of questionable and unhealthy food combinations masquerade as salad these days.

If you’re trying to watch your calorie or sodium intake, don’t assume that a fast food salad is automatically a healthy choice. Many such salads are packed with extra calories in the form of crispy noodles, fried chicken, cheese, and sugary dressings. Here 17 other examples of healthy foods that are actually ruining your diet.

24/7 Tempo compiled a list of 48 salads you can buy that have more calories than an average slice of cheese pizza. While a single serving slice of pizza has 452 calories, all of the salads on the list have over 500 calories, and some have double and even triple that amount. Many contain more sodium than cheese pizza as well. In fact, some of these pre-made salads dish out more than the American Heart Association’s recommended daily limit of sodium of 2,300 mg.

When it comes to high sodium intake, which can increase blood pressure and risk of stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease, keep in mind that over 70% of the sodium that Americans consume comes in the form of packaged or prepared foods, and that includes restaurant salads.

Making your own salad with a simple oil and vinegar dressing can help you keep an eye on both your calorie and sodium intake. Salad portions at restaurants are often enough to feed two or three people, so if you must order one, remember to monitor your portion size. You can also order a fast food item that has few calories — believe it or not, they do exist.

Click here to see the 48 salads that are worse than a slice of cheese pizza.

Methodology

To compile the 50 salads that are worse than a slice of cheese pizza, 24/7 Tempo reviewed nutrition information for hundreds of salads offered by dozens of restaurant chains. Only salads with more calories than a slice of cheese pizza were considered.

Courtesy of McDonald's / McDonalds.com

Southwest Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Salad
> Retailer: McDonalds
> Calories: 520
> Sodium: 960 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of TGI Fridays / TGIFridays.com

Million Dollar Cobb Salad with Grilled Salmon and Ranch Dressing
> Retailer: TGI Friday’s
> Calories: 1,110
> Sodium: 2,560 mg

Courtesy of Cheesecake Factory / Thecheesecakefactorylb.com

Sheila’s Chicken Avocado Salad
> Retailer: Cheesecake Factory
> Calories: 1,840
> Sodium: 2,130 mg

Courtesy of Wendy's / Wendys.com

Parmesan Caesar Chicken Salad
> Retailer: Wendy’s
> Calories: 560
> Sodium: 1,250 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Bob Evans / BobEvans.com

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad with Sweet Italian Dressing
> Retailer: Bob Evans
> Calories: 870
> Sodium: 2,230 mg

Courtesy of Applebees / Applebees.com

Crispy Chicken Tender Salad with Honey Dijon
> Retailer: Applebees
> Calories: 1,370
> Sodium: 2,480 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Bob Evans / BobEvans.com

Wildfire Fried Chicken Salad with Colonial Dressing and Specialty Bread
> Retailer: Bob Evans
> Calories: 1,320
> Sodium: 1,880 mg

Courtesy of Quiznos / Quiznos.com

Apple Harvest Chicken Salad with Acai Vinaigrette
> Retailer: Quiznos
> Calories: 680
> Sodium: 1,190 mg

Courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings / Buffalowildwings.com

Honey BBQ Chicken Salad with Honey BBQ Ranch Dressing
> Retailer: Buffalo WIld Wings
> Calories: 980
> Sodium: 3,320 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Chili's / Chilis.com

Caribbean Salad with Grilled Chicken
> Retailer: Chili’s
> Calories: 700
> Sodium: 1,150 mg

Courtesy of TGI Fridays / TGIFridays.com

BBQ Chicken Salad with BBQ Ranch Dressing
> Retailer: TGI Friday’s
> Calories: 990
> Sodium: 2,540 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Applebees / Applebees.com

Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad
> Retailer: Applebees
> Calories: 1,480
> Sodium: 2,300 mg

Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen / Cpk.com
Roasted Veggie

Roasted Veggie Salad with Fat-Free Vinaigrette
> Retailer: California Pizza Kitchen
> Calories: 830
> Sodium: 1,150 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Cheesecake Factory / Cheesecakefactory.com

Santa Fe Salad
> Retailer: Cheesecake Factory
> Calories: 1,680
> Sodium: 2,498 mg

Courtesy of Cheesecake Factory / Cheesecakefactory.com

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad
> Retailer: Cheesecake Factory
> Calories: 1,610
> Sodium: 2,410 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Panera Bread / Panerabread.com

Southwest Chili Lime Ranch Salad with Chicken
> Retailer: Panera Bread
> Calories: 650
> Sodium: 810 mg

Courtesy of Friendly's / Friendlys.com

Fried Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad
> Retailer: Friendly’s
> Calories: 805
> Sodium: 1,926 mg

Courtesy of TGI Fridays / TGIFridays.com

Chinese Chicken Salad
> Retailer: TGI Friday’s
> Calories: 1180
> Sodium: 2,960 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Bob Evans / Bobevans.com

Chicken Cobb Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
> Retailer: Bob Evans
> Calories: 1,000
> Sodium: 2,390 mg

Courtesy of Bonefish Grill / Bonefishgrill.com

Grilled Salmon Superfood Salad
> Retailer: Bonefish Grill
> Calories: 1,180
> Sodium: 2,980 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Wendy's / Wendys.com

Apple Pecan Chicken Salad
> Retailer: Wendy’s
> Calories: 570
> Sodium: 1,150 mg

Courtesy of Potbelly / Potbelly.com

Chicken Salad Salad with Potbelly Vinaigrette
> Retailer: Potbelly
> Calories: 700
> Sodium: 610 mg

Courtesy of Red Robin / Redrobin.com

Avo-Cobb-O Salad with Ranch Dressing
> Retailer: Red Robin
> Calories: 780
> Sodium: 1,710 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Burger King / Burgerking.com

Club Salad with Crispy Chicken and Ranch Dressing
> Retailer: Burger King
> Calories: 800
> Sodium: 1,620 mg

Courtesy of Subway / Subway.com

Chicken and Bacon Ranch Melt Salad
> Retailer: Subway
> Calories: 460
> Sodium: 1,000 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen / Cpk.com
Waldorf Chicken Salad

Full Waldorf Chicken Salad with Fat-Free Vinaigrette
> Retailer: California Pizza Kitchen
> Calories: 1,340
> Sodium: 2,090 mg

Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen / Cpk.com

Grilled Steak Salad, Full
> Retailer: California Pizza Kitchen
> Calories: 1,270
> Sodium: 2,060 mg

Courtesy of Chick-fil-A / Chick-fil-a.com

Cobb Salad with Chick-n-Strips 
> Retailer: Chick-Fil-A
> Calories: 620
> Sodium: 1,380 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Chili's / Chilis.com

Quesadilla Explosion Salad
> Retailer: Chili’s
> Calories: 1,400
> Sodium: 2,370 mg

Courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings / Buffalowildwings.com

Santa Fe Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing and Tortillas
> Retailer: Buffalo WIld Wings
> Calories: 1,020
> Sodium: 2,340 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Cheesecake Factory / Cheesecakefactory.com

Chinese Chicken Salad
> Retailer: Cheesecake Factory
> Calories: 1,740
> Sodium: 2,840 mg

Courtesy of Potbelly / Potbelly.com

Uptown Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Half
> Retailer: Potbelly
> Calories: 740
> Sodium: 1,050 mg

Courtesy of Red Robin / Redrobin.com

Mighty Caesar with Caesar Dressing
> Retailer: Red Robin
> Calories: 1,020
> Sodium: 1,830 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Perkins / Perkinsrestaurants.com

Honey Mustard Chicken Crunch Salad
> Retailer: Perkins
> Calories: 980
> Sodium: 2,050 mg

Yolanda R / Yelp

Fiesta Taco Salad with Beef
> Retailer: Taco Bell
> Calories: 760
> Sodium: 1,330 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen / Cpk.com

California Cobb Salad with Blue Cheese and Beets
> Retailer: California Pizza Kitchen
> Calories: 1,070
> Sodium: 1,750 mg

Courtesy of Friendly's / Friendlys.com

Apple Harvest Salad
> Retailer: Friendly’s
> Calories: 668
> Sodium: 2,277 mg

Courtesy of Chili's / Chilis.com

Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad
> Retailer: Chili’s
> Calories: 970
> Sodium: 3,350 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Flagler Palms / Trip Advisor
Cobb Salad
> Retailer: Cheesecake Factory
> Calories: 1,570
> Sodium: 2,424 mg

Autumn S / Yelp

Crispy Chicken Club Salad with Ranch Dressing and Croutons
> Retailer: Jack in the Box
> Calories: 820
> Sodium: 1,870 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings / Buffalowildwings.com

Buffalo Chicken Salad with Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dressing
> Retailer: Buffalo WIld Wings
> Calories: 1,010
> Sodium: 3,060 mg

Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen / Cpk.com
Thai Crunch with Avocado

Thai Crunch Salad with Fat-Free Vinaigrette
> Retailer: California Pizza Kitchen
> Calories: 1,400
> Sodium: 1,790 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Red Robin / Redrobin.com

Southwest Salad with Salsa Ranch Dressing
> Retailer: Red Robin
> Calories: 1,100
> Sodium: 2,140 mg

Courtesy of Au Bon Pain / Twitter

Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado and Ranch Dressing
> Retailer: Au Bon Pain
> Calories: 640
> Sodium: 1,260 mg

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen / Cpk.com

The Original BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad, Full
> Retailer: California Pizza Kitchen
> Calories: 1,090
> Sodium: 1,800 mg

Morton F / Yelp

Beef Taco Salad
> Retailer: Hardee’s
> Calories: 920
> Sodium: 1,920 mg

Bevan W / Yelp

Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad
> Retailer: Wendy’s
> Calories: 600
> Sodium: 1,240 mg

[in-text-ad-2]

Vanessa C / Yelp

Caesar Salad with Chicken
> Retailer: Cheesecake Factory
> Calories: 1,520
> Sodium: 1,540 mg

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.