When most of us think about healthy eating we think of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein sources. So that means a salad should be healthy too, right? WRONG!
Unfortunately, many of us are deceived every time we go out to eat and order a salad. I have fallen for this trap many times. Some salads contain well over 1,000 calories and contain more fat and sodium than you should consume in an entire day! Yikes.
Sometimes it’s easy to spot the calorie monsters – you know, the ones with fried chicken, bacon or ranch dressing…but not always. The following are some of the worst salads found at common restaurants, all containing over 1,000 calories. Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve eaten some of these – we all fall victim now and then! Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Salad – yeah, I’ve eaten that one. And let’s be serious, the name should have given it away, but I convinced myself otherwise.
So without further ado…
–Applebee’s Apple Walnut Chicken Salad( but it has apples!?…)
1000 calories, 65g fat 16g saturated fat, 1670 mg sodium
–Romano’s Macaroni Grill Chicken Florentine Salad
1020 calories, 17g fat, 2830 mg sodium
–Moe’s Southwest Grill Close Talker Crispy Salad Bowls (chicken,steak,pork)
1020-1060 calories, 67-71 g fat, up to 2240 mg sodium
–Applebee’s Grilled Shrimp and Spinach Salad
1050 calories, 72g fat, 2530mg sodium
–Quiznos Roasted Chicken Flatbread Salad w/ Honey Mustard Dressing
1070 calories, 71g fat, 1770 mg sodium
–Chili’s Boneless Buffalo Salad
1070 calories, 77g fat, 4380 mg sodium (a heart attack in a bowl)
–Applebee’s Crispy Shrimp Caesar Salad
1060 calories, 78 g fat, 2270mg sodium
–Chili’s Southwestern Cobb Salad
1080 calories, 71 g fat, 2650 mg sodium
–Ruby Tuesday’s Carolina Chicken Salad
1129 calories, 71 g fat
–Baja Fresh Mexican Grill’s Charbroiled Steak Tostada Salad
1230 calories, 63g fat, 2380mg sodium
–TGI Fridays Cobb Salad
1245 calories, 101 g fat (no words…)
–Applebee’s Santa Fe Chicken Salad
1300 calories, 94g fat, 3420mg sodium
–TGI Fridays Pecan-crusted Chicken Salad
1360 calories, 50 g fat
-Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Salad
1390 calories, 89 g fat, 2710 sodium
–Applebees Oriental Chicken Salad w/ Oriental Vinegrette
1430 calories, 93g fat
-Cheesecake Factory Caesar Salad w/ Chicken
1513 calories, 16g saturated fat, 1480 mg sodium
–Chevy’s Fresh Mex Grilled Fajita Salads
1450-1620 calories, 27-37g fat, 1570-2530 mg sodium
–Chevy’s Fresh Mex Tostada Salads
1550-1720 calories, 37-47 g fat, 2480-3310 mg sodium
Avoid these salads at all costs! If you can’t resist, be sure to get the dressing on the side, choose grilled chicken when you can, and stop eating when you’re full. Take the rest home for lunch the next day!
