Domino's Serves Up 'Food Porn'
Categories: Nutrition & Supplements
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| Photo: Rachel Been, AOL |
No matter which of the five options you choose, each dinner plate-sized breadbowl is filled with pasta and sauce and clocks in at 1,300 to 1,500 calories. "White-flour pasta with cream-cheese sauce can be a nutritional nightmare on its own," CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley said in a press release. "The last thing it needs is an 800-calorie white-bread pizza-crust bowl."
And many people are probably not stopping at the single serving of only eating half of this dish. CSPI also takes Domino's to task for topping three of the dishes with Alfredo sauce, which the public interest group dubbed "heart attack on a plate" nearly a decade ago.
It's not just the calorie count. The items have more than a day's worth of saturated fat and sodium. "Topping a pizza crust with an order of macaroni and cheese is probably the most discouraging mac-and-cheese innovation since The Cheesecake Factory decided to ball it up and toss it in the deep-fryer," Hurley said. "What's next, wrapping it in a giant blueberry pancake?"
Breadbowl Pastas are just the latest installment in CSPI's food porn list. Chipotle, Cold Stone Creamery and Starbucks also get called out for peddling some of the unhealthiest foods out there.
And even salad can take a turn for the worst. But it doesn't have to be that way. Tanya recently did a recipe rehab on McDonald's Southwest Chicken Salad.
Click through the gallery below to see some more fast food offenders.
Calories: 1760 calories
Fat: 133 g
Sodium:2120 mg
If you want to stick to the government's health guidelines, eat this over the space of two days or you'll go overboard on fat. And hold the dressing on this one -- it'll save you 370 calories and 40 fat grams. Yikes!
Outrageous Fast Food
Domino's BreadBowl Pasta, 3-Cheese Mac-N-Cheese, whole dish
Calories: 1460
Fat: 56 g
Sodium: 2840 mg
You know it's mac and cheese and you know it's surrounded in calorie-loaded carbs, but did you know this deceptive dish counts as two servings? And that's probably why this order puts you near your daily fat allowance and way past the recommended daily salt intake. If you have the willpower -- eat one serving, or half the bowl!
*Note: The nutrition information isn't available on Domino's Web site. AOL Health requested the information from Domino's directly.
Rachel Been, AOL
Domino's BreadBowl Pasta, Chicken Alfredo, whole dish
Calories: 1400
Fat: 50 g
Sodium: 2140 mg
If you're craving chicken alfredo, and you happen to be at Domino's, consider ordering their bread-less version. In comparison it contains a lighter 600 calories, 29 fat grams and 1080 mg of sodium.
*Note: The nutrition information isn't available on Domino's Web site. AOL Health requested the information from Domino's directly.
Rachel Been, AOL
Quiznos Tuna Melt, large
Calories: 1760 calories
Fat: 133 g
Sodium:2120 mg
If you want to stick to the government's health guidelines, eat this over the space of two days or you'll go overboard on fat. And hold the dressing on this one -- it'll save you 370 calories and 40 fat grams. Yikes!
Melanie J. Kramer, AOL
Wendy's Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich
Calories: 470
Fat: 24 g
Sodium: 930 mg
Don't let the "premium" and "fish" in the name fool you into thinking this new order is lean. For a truly lighter option from Wendy's try the Grilled Chicken Go Wrap, which contains 260 calories, 11 fat grams and 760 mg of sodium.
Rachel Been, AOL
Ruby Tuesday's Boston Blue Burger
Calories: 1466
Fat: 98 g
Sodium: Not available
This burger contains more than a day and a third's worth of fat grams -- or a fat content equivalent to four meals. It also contains about three-fourths of a day's worth of calories, and who knows what Ruby Tuesday's doesn't want you to know about the sodium content!
*Nutrition Information varies by location.
Keith Morrison, AOL
Dunkin' Donuts Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
Calories: 390
Fat: 23 g
Sodium: 1000 mg
While this bad boy doesn't compare to the train wreck of a breakfast platter from McDonald's (see slide 22), do you really want to eat nearly half a day's worth of sodium for breakfast?
Keith Morrison, AOL
Ruby Tuesday's Veggie Burger
Calories: 1007
Fat: 53 g
Sodium: Not available
Okay, this is a tough one to understand. Store-bought veggie patties like those available from Garden Burger, Boca Burger and Morningstar Farms, usually amount to about 100 calories and 5 grams of fat without any fixings. Which begs the question, just what kind of fixings is Ruby Tuesday's adding in? To be fair, this meat-free version is lower in calories and fat than most of the other burger options available from Ruby Tuesday's.
*Nutrition Information varies by location.
Keith Morrison, AOL
Ruby Tuesday's Kids' Mini Turkey Burgers and Fries
Calories: 873
Fat: 46 g
Sodium: Not available
If you're watching your weight while eating out, you might think that the kid's menu is a safe place to order from. That's not necessarily the case at Ruby Tuesday's. While the kids' minis are certainly lighter than their adult counterparts, they also contain about 70 percent of the fat adults should consume in a day.
Note: Dietary recommendations for calorie, fat and sodium intake are not available.
*Nutrition Information varies by location.
Keith Morrison, AOL
Hardee's Monster Thickburger
Calories: 1420
Fat: 108 g
Sodium: 2770 mg
This monster tops out your daily fat and sodium. Talk about scary!
James A. Finley, AP
Burger King Steakhouse Burger
Calories: 950
Fat: 59 g
Sodium: 1950 mg
This new BK burger packs half the calories and nearly all of the sodium and fat you should have in one day. If you eat it, don't even think about ordering a side of fries. A small order would tack on an extra 340 calories, 17 fat grams and 590 mg of sodium.
Keith Morrison, AOL
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lee 8-28-2009 @ 6:25PM
I had a bread bowl the other day (chicken alfredo) and will never order a breadbowl again.. It tastes like someone hollowed out a nerf ball, lightly salted it and added strips of rubber and sauce.. It was truly a gross experience..aren't things that taste that bad supposed to be GOOD for you?
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WHOAJOJOM 8-31-2009 @ 10:44PM
!t's a free country, so eat what you like Just have GOOD insurance, cause i won't be paying my my taxas for for those who don't make an effort to stay heathy- racking up major medical problems/expenses related to ther fact that the extra wieght they carry makes me pay for the medical condions when they're hospitalized, and i have to pay for the outcome.
Gordon 8-29-2009 @ 7:27AM
That about sums it up. I ordered one when they first came out, and vowed I'd never order another one. I do love their over-baked sandwiches though; especially the Philly Cheese Steak. Their chicken salad isn't bad, but a little too expensive. I haven't tried those new chocolate desserts yet though.
morgan 8-28-2009 @ 8:30PM
if you don't like it don't order it. no one makes you eat anything, but you people all want to tell me what I CAN'T eat. Just mind your own business if you don't mind.
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Rose 8-29-2009 @ 2:38AM
I'm totally with you. Why are some people so concerned what everyone else is doing?
desireeg00 8-31-2009 @ 4:25PM
People care about what other's are consuming, because it's costing this country millions if not billions in health care cost. I'm tired of paying for other people's bad decisions.
Zach 8-29-2009 @ 1:21AM
Those things are disgusting as is.
But the blueberry pancake idea has merit.
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Lisa. 8-28-2009 @ 9:01PM
Blah, blah, blah. The biggest problem we have in this country is people trying to impose their beliefs and habits on others. If you don't like the food, then don't order it. But if I want it, then I don't give a squat if YOU think I should eat it or not. Mind your business.
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Rose 8-29-2009 @ 2:38AM
Hey Steve...you sound like a jerk off. Just because someone supports freedom of choice without interference from others who "know what good" for you...doesn't mean they're heavy. That's a really stupid conclusion on your part. I think you just wanted to be contrary so you could get some attention. So here it is....enjoy.
Chuck 8-28-2009 @ 9:10PM
My take? Yuk Patooey! On a whim, I ordered all 5 versions. I give em 1 star out of 5. ( It IS filling ) Pizza needs fingers.Pasta a fork. These need both. Truth? It's a few tbsp's of pasta surrounded by a greasy bowl of fluffed up doughy bread. My ex used to call me garbage mouth cause I mostly like everything. THESE? I had to force myself to finish half. ( I hate to waste food) Three "halves" are till in my freezer as "emergency food" Don't worry about calories... You won't eat enough to matter. Basically... You'll get a few forkfulls of palatable pasta and probably feed the birds with the remnants of the "Bowl" Buy a pizza instead.
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JohnQ 8-28-2009 @ 9:22PM
I hope Dominos sues the hell out of the Center for Science in the Public Interest for slander.
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John 8-28-2009 @ 10:10PM
Mmmm, food and porn! Two great tastes together at last!
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Wolf 8-28-2009 @ 10:11PM
Ok, Porn by definition is the depiction of an explicit sexual act.... So unless the pizza has a pepperoni penetrating an olive, I don't think the word "Food Porn" applies.
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randyjay88 8-28-2009 @ 10:29PM
it is you choice to eat something good for you or something bad. so if you choose to the bread bowl then eat it. its not like domino's shove the breadbowl down your throat and made you eat. same thing with with any other fast food place
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Guy Jones 8-28-2009 @ 11:53PM
the center for science in the public interest,AKA the food police can kiss my big ole pasta bowl. Bunch of fascist do gooders
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Owl 8-28-2009 @ 10:42PM
This kind of stuff drives me nuts. I can understand making the calorie count and fat grams available to people, but who is to say what should be available for people to eat. It should be up to them!! The trick is that you shouldn't be eating this all the time, everyday, or eating the whole thing in one sitting. But if someone wants to eat it, it is their life, their heart, their body...
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SweetP 8-28-2009 @ 10:47PM
Those pasta bowls look disgusting!
Nutritional value, please?
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solarbabe62 8-28-2009 @ 11:02PM
who cares about the calories. If someone does'nt want to eat that much then don't, but don't ruin it for the rest of us who don't have to worry about that sort of thing.It's your own choice as to what you put in your mouth.
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kekisme 8-28-2009 @ 11:15PM
Those pics were total BS. 1/2 those items NEVER look that bad, or no one would eat them! Unless the photographer left the food sitting out on his counter for a day or two, to add a little more gross-ness to it.
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John 8-28-2009 @ 11:58PM
WHO CARES...if its 5000 calories or 50 so what. Dont order it if its against your better judgement. Then on the other hand, dont tell me what to eat either. I also wonder at what right does anyone have to write an article in judgement against a pizza chains menu item? Way to much info and the means to spread it anymore. better the days when we didnt know what was going on around the corner, much less the other side of the world.
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