Fatty Dishes Disappear From Menus

Posted on Oct 30th 2009 2:00PM by Kristen Seymour

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Fatty foods, a thing of the past? Photo: Gwen Bubbles, Flickr

Two years ago, the authors of "Eat This, Not That" published a list of the 20 Worst Foods in America. Since then, half of those unhealthy dishes have either changed their nutritional content drastically or have been taken off the menu altogether, reports Men's Health (via Today).

Could this be the start of a trend where restaurants offer menus filled with good-for-you meals?

Well, that might be stretching it, but it does look like many restaurants are taking lists like the one mentioned above seriously. For example, gone is Ruby Tuesday's Colossal Burger, as well as Baskin-Robins Chocolate Oreo Shake. With books like "Eat This, Not That" on the market, more and more Americans are educating themselves about the food available at restaurants, and when we know that a meal packs a day's worth of calories, fat and sodium, most of us are not as likely to order it.

Add to that the fact that some areas, such as New York City, Seattle and the state of California, have implemented laws that require restaurants to disclose nutritional facts on site, and the number of restaurants voluntarily displaying calorie and fat content on their Web sites, and the calorie cautious consumer has plenty of tools to fight the fat.

Of course, in no way does this mean you can go into your favorite restaurant, order whatever you like and end up with a healthful meal. You still need to make smart choices, even if you go to Red Lobster (which, according to "Eat This, Not That" authors, earned an A- this year for its wide selection of lean seafood options -- up from an F- last year for failure to disclose).

The Men's Health article has tips and tricks for ordering the right food when you go out to eat, including avoiding things advertised as crispy and saying, "No," to the combo meal (the average "value" meal packs 1,200 calories). Check out the full article to find out what to order at Starbucks and which meal won the "Most Improved" award in the 2010 edition of "Eat This, Not That."

Click on the gallery below to see some of the worst choices you can make while eating out.

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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

Getty Images North America

Outrageous Fast Food

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

Thinking a single meal couldn't be that bad? One restaurant was sued over the amount of sodium in its food.

34 Comment

Tags: dining out, DiningOut, eat this not that, eating out, EatingOut, EatThisNotThat, fatty foods, FattyFoods, most improved foods, most improved restaurant, MostImprovedFoods, MostImprovedRestaurant, restaurant food, RestaurantFood

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Jim 10-30-2009 @ 2:15PM

What kind of idiot eats stuff like this every day, and what kind of fool berates everyone as though they do? If I eat something like this once a week, it would be a shock. And I eat it because it TASTES GOOD. Think of what ELSE you eat, too. If there are 100 percent of the prescribed fat in one thing, and you do not eat the rest of the day, so what?!?!? It is not a single-item choice, it is a dietary choice across time!

Erica 10-30-2009 @ 2:52PM

THANK YOU! I mean really, i try and eat healthy most every day, so when I go out to eat, I want to eat something GOOD, not good for me! Bring on the calories. I'll probably even get dessert. This dad-gum country has gone completely insane.

Shoshana 10-30-2009 @ 2:52PM

They aren't berating everyone - they're berating the people who don't bother to check the nutritional values and order ridiculous dishes over and over again just for the taste.

My personal food principal - if it's not good for you, why would you want it in your body? And just a heads up, eating one fatty meal and fasting for the rest of the day is extremely unhealthy for your body. If you don't eat regularly your body will begin to retain the fat, and you will gain weight. Carrying on like this will lower a person's ability to lost weight at all in the future.

Karen 10-31-2009 @ 6:06PM

Why the heck don't these people stay out of our lives! Maybe we should ban skiing, or yachting/boating, or running (too many people get hurt or killed doing these activities). I guess truth be told they don't want diversity - they just want everything "their" way.
Get out of my life.

tiff 10-30-2009 @ 2:36PM

ruby tuesday took the collosal burger off their menu a few times and put it back on, you could still order if you ask them. Besides their pasta dishes such as broccoli and chicken is just as terrrrrrible for you as well. I worked at the corporation for a few years so I know the ins and out of the wacky place. ps. the croutons are amazing...amazingly dipped in a grease bat and served sprinkled in garlic salt.

Blue Kentucky Girl 10-30-2009 @ 3:38PM

The restaurants have been sending a message to the consumer for a long time: 'you are too stupid to know what is good for you' .. I cannot speak for anyone else, but I'm pretty sure I know what tastes good to me and what I want to eat. I will continue to order what I want .. when I want .. and eat as little or as much of it as I choose. Deliver me from the do-gooders who want to serve bloody steaks and undercooked pork and try to tell the rest of us about carbs. Pitiful.

eric 10-30-2009 @ 3:03PM

This is stupid. If your eating a full pound of beef with mayo and all the fixings does anyone actually think...hey this might not be a healthy item to order? You can actually go into any restaurant and say the same thing about half of any menu! These guys are BRILLIANT!!!! Actually i'm just jealous that I didn't think of writing such a stupid book and have idoits cling to it like it's the bible and make money...Damn I just spilled my chocalate oroe milk shake that my fat ass just got from the Dairy Queen DRIVE THRU all over my Colossal Burger from Ruby Tuesday's CURBSIDE PICK-UP in front of the desk that I sit in front of all day long exercising my fat fingers typing this stupid comment.

AJA 10-30-2009 @ 5:53PM

not all the people who cling to the Bible are idiots...

John F.C. Taylor 10-30-2009 @ 3:34PM

I bet the food nazis are happy with this news. Instead of forcing restaurants to offer only healthy foods or limiting the "bad" foods, they should allow the restaurants to offer parallel menus for thoose people who only eat out on rare occasions and wouldn't be hurt by the occasional fatburger. Of course, it isn't just restaurants. Try and find a salty potato chip these days. How about chocolate milk? Has anyone seen any store that carries it made out of whole milk?

henry sena 10-30-2009 @ 3:36PM

i don't go to places such as fast food to eat healthy. i usually eat unhealthy about once a month or less. people are responsible for what they eat not the restaurants.

Gary 10-30-2009 @ 3:26PM

Geez,
Some of these look disgusting....especially the pasta filled bread-bowls from Dominos. When I first saw them on TV I almost threw up.
That being said I wish Big Brother/Government would stay the hell out of our mouths and stomachs. Fine,give us the bad news about calories,fat,etc. But then go home and leave us alone. What anyone eats or doesn't eat is no one's business except the person who eats it. Stop minding everybody elses business. Get a grip. This is America where we are free to do what we choose.

JimBear 10-30-2009 @ 3:33PM

These articles are stupid, most things you have when eating out are full of calories from the break and butter you get, to the fried appetizers, the caesar salads drenched in dressing and cheese and fo course entrees and desserts. Thats why you dine out for something delicious. When I go out and spend my $$$, I want something good and tasty that I can't get at home regardless of calories. What is the point of going out and spending $20.00 if you are simply going to order a plain chicken breast and salad with no dressing? I can have a plain chicken breast and salad any day of the week at home.

Rebecca 10-30-2009 @ 3:43PM

The bottom line is that this book is trying to educate the average person. We have an obesity epidemic in this country that is costing this county a ridiculous amount of money every year in healthcare costs. My ER doctor husband sees 300-600lb people every day with blood pressure through the roof and waistlines that are going to kill them. Some of these people genuinely want to get healthier but may not know where to start. Plus, they don't want to have to stop eating out as they strive for health. Hence, these books are published for those people who WANT to get healthy and NEED guidance. They would like to know that a seemingly healthy salad packs thousands of calories and two days worth of fat grams so that they can avoid that salad and choose a healthier option.
These books, websites, shows on t.v. talking about bad foods, etc are all resources to help people. If I can avoid having to pay for all of these morbidly obese people going to the ER and zillions of hospital visits, I will definitely support the education of these people in matters of taking better care of their bodies and eating properly.
I also don't support taking all bad food off menus, because we all love to have bad foods every once in awhile, but people need to realize that these foods, in most cases, cannot and should not be eaten every day if you are trying to get/stay healthy. A previous post was absolutely correct; it is not healthy to eat one meal a day. I say, eat healthy most of the time and then, once a week, go out and eat a meal of your choice and don't worry about its nutritional value.

Firehaven 10-30-2009 @ 4:43PM

"I say, eat healthy most of the time and then, once a week, go out and eat a meal of your choice and don't worry about its nutritional value."

Rebecca,

I have your permission to eat what I want "once a week"? How very kind of you, your majesty...

I'm not overweight and I'm probably as healthy or healthier than you are and I eat what I want...when I want...as often as I want...oh...and I pay for my own health issues...I don't want the government's charity...

Get over yourself...it's called personal responsibility...I don't need you or the Nanny state to tell me about my health...period.

AJA 10-30-2009 @ 4:01PM

So the Colossal Burger has finally been retired? I worked for Ruby Tuesday for like 3 years, and I have not been back in to eat at any Ruby Tuesday for 4 years. I guess the direction of the company was turning and not in a good way. They really have good food, but I guess I ate so much of it working there that I got tired of it.

FOXYLYNX 10-30-2009 @ 4:25PM

WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE ME - I'M SKINNY AND I ACTUALLY LOOK FOR FOODS THAT PUT THE LBS ON. NOT EVERYONE IN AMERICA IS OVERWEIGHT! I EAT HEALTHY MOST OF THE TIME, BUT WHEN I GO OUT - I WANT TO ENJOY MYSELF - WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THAT!

tony 10-30-2009 @ 5:14PM

If healthy food was cheaper then more people would eat it !!

Linda 10-30-2009 @ 6:01PM

What has gone unsaid in all this hullaballoo is something that concerns me as much as the calories, fat and sodium content of all foods eaten out is how much MSG most of it contains! Oh, well, I guess "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel" is the American way.

mezl 10-30-2009 @ 6:34PM

this country's gone nuts with the "health" craze. any one should know just by LOOKING at the food, or pictures of it in a menu, or just having experience with food since child hood, which foods are not good for you. does NOT take a rocket scientist to figure all this out. even in the 70's, i used to hear the term, "junk food". when you go to a restaurant, diner, what ever, unless it specifically states in the name of the restaurant it's a health food joint, any one of reasonable intelligence should know it's not "healthy" food they're eating. if people want to eat healthy, they can cook at home or open or go to a "health" place. but me... i like my occasional steak or pork chop dinner, or burger, or hot dogs and french fries. i am not especially over weight, and i LIKE the taste of grease and fat and such. and i resent that this country is trying to make EVERY restaurant follow regulations because other people don't know when to stop eating. give me a break....

Marie 10-30-2009 @ 6:38PM

Bring back the salad bar. It was a great way to take the edge off your appetite so you didn't need to order appetizers with your entry.
Years ago, dinner out meant a steak and baked potato. Meals came with a salad and a small dinner roll. Then restaurants started to pile up garbage on their hamburgers in guise of being creative.

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