5 High Calorie vs Low Calorie Meals From Chain Restaurants
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Eat This, Avoid That Sit Down Restaurant Edition
On today’s episode of Live Lean TV, I’m comparing 5 high calorie vs low calorie meals from chain restaurants.
I went on a search for the fattiest foods in America’s most visited sit-down restaurants.
You know I love a diet high in healthy fat, and am a big believer in eating higher amounts of fat, from natural animal and plant sources.
Not only are these fat sources healthy for you, they’ll also fill you up so you’ll have a hard time over-consuming calories.
However, the following meals from these chain restaurants are full of the wrong kinds of unhealthy fat, and do not apply.
Especially when it comes to trans fats.
Those bad boys are lethal.
Therefore, these I want to ensure you are not eating any of these gut blasting meals.
I also did a similar comparison for the 7 worst fast food meals for weight loss, here.
Are you eating any of this gut blasting meals?
I visited the nutrition information section of each of the following chain restaurants website:
- Applebee’s
- Chili’s
- IHOP
- Ruby Tuesday’s
- The Cheesecake Factory
Before I share my findings, in the comment section below, let me know which one of these chain restaurants do you think made the list the most, for the fattiest foods in America?
The Categories For The Worst Fattiest Food Options
I broke the worst fattiest food options down into the following categories:
- Eggs
- Sandwiches
- Fish
- Sides
- Beef
But don’t worry, I’ll also give you a healthier, lower calorie option for each meal category as well.
Side note: The Cheesecake Factory didn’t make any of the lists, because at the time of filming this video in 2014, I couldn’t find the nutrition facts information on their website.
Maybe I was just looking in the wrong place, but if you’re not openly offering this information, shame on you Cheesecake Factory.
Update: Cheesecake Factory now shares their Nutritional Guide on the website with the menu’s nutrition facts.
5 High Calorie vs Low Calorie Meals From Chain Restaurants
All right, let’s jump in and compare the high calorie vs low calorie meals from chain restaurants, including the fattiest foods in America.
#1. Fattiest High Calorie Egg Option From IHOP
Classic Skillet With Chicken, Country Fried Steak, Sausage, And Gravy
This is probably no surprise that the fattiest egg option is from IHOP.
Nutrition Facts: Classic Skillet with Chicken, Country Fried Steak, Sausage, and Gravy
- Calories: 2,510
- Fat: 163g (3.0g of trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 180g
- Protein: 82g
- Sodium: 5,450mg
With a whopping 5,450mg of sodium, do not eat this meal from IHOP.
Go with the following healthier meal option at IHOP
Healthier Lower Calorie Egg Option From IHOP
Simple And Fit 2 Egg Breakfast
Nutrition Facts: Simple And Fit 2 Egg Breakfast
- Calories: 360
- Fat: 10g (0.5g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Protein: 26g
- Sodium: 780mg
It’s not hard to tell that this is a much healthier breakfast option when compared to the beast of a meal that we first shared.
#2. Fattiest High Calorie Sandwich Option From Chili’s
Bacon Ranch Beef Quesadilla
Nutrition Facts: Bacon Ranch Beef Quesadilla
- Calories: 1,880
- Fat: 144g (0.5g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 69g
- Protein: 80g
- Sodium: 3,990mg
Go with this healthier option from Chili’s.
Healthier Low Calorie Sandwich Option From Chili’s:
Chicken Quesadilla
Nutrition Facts: Chicken Quesadilla
- Calories: 700
- Fat: 49g (0g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Protein: 33g
- Sodium: 1,520mg
Let’s keep moving.
#3. Fattiest High Calorie Fish Option From Applebee’s
New England Fish And Chips
Nutrition Facts: New England Fish And Chips
- Calories: 1,690
- Fat: 126g (1.5g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 92g
- Protein: 46g
- Sodium: 2,840mg
Healthier Low Calorie Fish Option From Applebee’s:
Blackened Tilapia
Nutrition Facts: Blackened Tilapia
- Calories: 470
- Fat: 18g (0g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 34g
- Sodium: 1,370mg
It’s still high sodium, but it’s better than the other option.
#4. Fattiest High Calorie Sides Option From Chili’s:
Full Order Texas Cheese Fries
This sounds like trouble.
Nutrition Facts: Full Order Texas Cheese Fries
- Calories: 1,760
- Fat: 119g (2.0g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 96g
- Protein: 75g
- Sodium: 5,310mg
That is another crazy amount of sodium.
If you need a side or appetizer, always go with a house salad.
Healthier Low Calorie Sides Option From Chili’s:
House Salad
Nutrition Facts: House Salad
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 6g (0g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Protein: 7g
- Sodium: 220mg
#5. Fattiest High Calorie Beef Option From Chili’s:
Big Mouth Burger Bites
With a name like that, you should probably stay away from these hamburgers.
Nutrition Facts: Big Mouth Burger Bites
- Calories: 1,820
- Fat: 114g (2.0g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 130g
- Protein: 67g
- Sodium: 4,140mg
Healthier Low Calorie Beef Option From Chili’s:
Big Mouth Burger Bites (from lunch menu)
Go with the healthier option from their lunch menu.
It’s still called the Big Mouth Burger Bites, but it’s served in a smaller portion.
Nutrition Facts: Big Mouth Burger Bites (Lunch Menu)
- Calories: 820
- Fat: 44g (1.0g trans fat)
- Carbohydrates: 72g
- Protein: 33g
- Sodium: 2,130mg
Avoid These High Calorie Meals
That’s some scary ishh right there.
Avoid these high calorie meals and try to limit the amount of time you eat out to once a week.
Of course your best bet is to cook at home, so you can control the ingredients that are going into your food.
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Questions Of The Day:
- Do you eat at any of these chain restaurants?
- Have you ever ordered any of these high calorie fatty or low calorie healthier meals?
Share your experiences in the comment section below.
Check out our free workout videos here.
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Brad Gouthro is the founder of Live Lean TV, a media company focused on helping men and women “Live Lean” 365 days a year. Brad’s programs and content have helped millions of people all over the world learn how to get in shape, and more importantly, sustain it for life.
I just went to the Cheesecake Factory for my birthday and had the Herb
Crusted Filet of Salmon. When I plugged the item into myfitnesspal it gave
me 919 calories 28g fat 538 mg sodium 8g carbs and 23g of protein.
Holy f**k! How can someone eat such big portions of food?!
Cheeskake Factory definetly
hey Brad I just wanted to tell you, that I have eaten at the cheesecake factory and the only way to get there calorie counts is to call the main office and ask for what items on there menu you want the calorie counts, and also they have a skinnylicious menu with everything on there under 600 calories
just an fyi
Michael
Ugh! I feel like I gained 10 pounds just looking at that food! I always make sure to look at the nutritional info online before I visit a restaurant so I go in there knowing the healthiest option! Shame on Cheesecake Factory for not offering theirs!
Interesting video! It is very important to educate people about food, especially if something looks healthy but is not. Keep up the great work Brad!
IHOP
Youtube Hottie CRUSH! :)))))
Cheesecake Factory. I used to eat there all the time but not no more!
Omg thanks guys this will help sooo much on date nights with me and my
partner
I hop def
IHOP least chillis has low cal entrees
Here’s the Cheesecake Factory nutrition chart/PDF:
https://www.cheesecakefactorynutrition.com/restaurant-nutrition-chart.php?
Wow! that’s a lot of research! It is quite shocking to see the numbers on
these things.. I feel like everyone kinda knows that those unhealthy
options aren’t good, but it’s great to see the numbers difference and just
how much a slight change of order can make! It’s not about being perfect
all the time, but just getting a little bit smarter, and making wiser
choices and this is a perfect example of how simple that can be
I stopped eating from restaurants for a year .. and I’m very happy with my
decision ..!!
eating clean at home is the best thing that could ever happen in your life
.. stay clean and healthy ..
thanks Brad ..!!
That’s actually disgusting. Considering I keep to a 1500 calorie a day
diet, some of these would actually count as my entire daily intake. That’s
really horrible.
Shocking!
Before watching, tell me which sit-down restaurant do you think made the
fattiest foods list the most: Applebees, Cheesecake Factory, Chili’s, IHOP,
or Ruby Tuesday’s?