Fattening Side Dishes

Fattening Side Dishes

By Gabrielle Linzer and Christina Parrella

These miniscule eats may seem like insignificant additions to your meal, but hidden in those seemingly innocent fast-food sides are some whopping calorie counts. Sometimes bad things do come in small packages, like these 18 disastrous dishes that go overboard on acceptable daily allowances of calories (2,000), fat (65 g), and sodium content (2,400 mg).



*All nutrition information can be found on each restaurant's Web site, where available. As nutrition information is frequently updated we try and keep as current with our information to present these numbers as accurately as possible. Please feel free to send us feedback if you notice any discrepancy.

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Boston Market Creamed Spinach

Calories: 280
Fat: 23g
Sodium: 580mg

Sure this Boston Market signature dish tastes great on the side with your chicken meal but this creamy spinach concoction contains 23 grams of fat, 580 mg of sodium and 280 calories. Is this side dish really worth it?

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Taco Bell Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes

Calories: 270
Fat: 15g
Sodium: 840mg

You probably weren't expecting health food when you order potatoes topped with easy cheese, but this side could send the calories in your fiesta over the top. You might want to opt for a few chips dipped in salsa to complement your tacos instead.

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Quizno's Snickerdoodle Cookie

Calories: 400
Fat: 16g
Sodium: 280 mg

Eating this sugary, peanuty cookie after your Quizno's sandwich or salad will cost you 20 percent of your daily caloric intake.

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McDonald's Cinnamon Melts

Calories: 460
Fat: 19g
Sodium: 370mg

After chomping down on the already high-calorie, high fat burger and fries fare from McDonald's do not go over the top with the Cinnamon Melts. Sure they look good because they're cinammony, sweet, glazed and gooey but they're actually not very healthy. We know it won't surprise you that the 460 calories, 19 grams of fat and 370 grams of sodium aren't exactly good for your diet.

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Wendy's Large French Fries

Calories: 540
Fat: 26g
Sodium: 500mg

Fries naturally accompany a burger or chicken nuggets, but you may want to break the habit of supplementing your meal with this ketchup friendly side for your health's sake. Munching on a large side of fries will use up almost of your healthy daily calorie allowance and will prevent you from indulging in other fast food delicacies without overloading on lots of nasty calories.

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Starbucks Apple Fritter

Calories: 430
Fat: 20g
Sodium: 300mg

You know when you go into Starbucks for your refreshing frappuccino you're always eyeing up the desert case, staring down the glazed donuts, the rice cakes and the apple fritter. This new side treat which looks like a lumpy, heavier donut is loaded with apples and covered in a heavy sugar glaze that holds 430 calories, 20 grams of fat and 300 mg of sodium. Plus add that on top of the calorie heavy drink you're probably consuming and your daily allowance will skyrocket.

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White Castle Fish Nibblers Sack

Calories: 1090
Fat: 56g
Sodium: 2980mg

If the smell doesn't send you running for the hills, the calorie and sodium count should. It's one thing if you delight in White Castle's miniature burgers, but it's another to add on a sack of these deadly bites from the sea. If you're dying for fish, a baked option, or just about any option, would be a better choice.

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KFC Biscuit

Calories: 180
Fat: 8g
Sodium: 530mg

This two-bite treat is flaky and delicious, but packs a lot more unhealthy stuff than should be in something so compact. The amount of calories in this miniscule biscuit almost equals that of an entire larger side dish. If you're looking to indulge in evil, this won't be your most fulfilling option.

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Au Bon Pain Rosemary Garlic Breadstick

Calories: 180
Fat: 5g
Sodium: 710mg

The Rosemary Garlic breadstick sounds like a good side snack especially if you're eating a big salad or soup, but not only will it give you garlicky breath, it'll wreck your diet, especially because you'll probably munch on more than one.

Nathan Ellis Perkel for AOL