If you’re really into having your food experience ruined, you’re in luck. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) just released their rundown of some of the foods available at American restaurants that contain the highest number of calories, plus the highest amounts of saturated fat, added sugar, and/or sodium.
Founded in 1971, CSPI describe themselves as, “perhaps the oldest independent, science-based consumer advocacy organization.” Their mission is to lobby politicians to introduce policies that push healthy eating, and take on companies they feel are misleading or harming customers. In the past, they’ve forced McDonald’s to improve the nutritional content of their Happy Meals by reducing fat, sodium and sugar, and limiting the total number of calories to no more than 600. And in 2018, they convinced the council and Mayor of Baltimore, MD, to sign the Baltimore City Healthy Kids Meals Bill, which says that restaurants must limit the drinks on their kids’ menus to sparkling or still water, milk, and/or 100 percent fruit juice.
Last night Baltimore City Council voted to drop soda and sugary drinks from restaurant kids meals. 74% of top restaurant chains still have sugary drinks on the kids menu-lots of work to do!
— Center for Science in the Public Interest (@CSPI) February 27, 2018
And now, they’re turning their focus to the foods on menus. In a list that relies pretty heavily on food shaming, they gave a rundown of some of the foods they deem among the most Xtreme (their spelling.)
First up, Sonic’s Oreo Peanut Butter Master Shake.
The shake that needs no context.
Peanut butter shake from Sonic👌🏼
— Jacob (@jacobefird6) July 30, 2019
And has no equals.
And makes car rides that much better.
It also, according to CSPI, contains 48g of saturated fat and 62g of added sugar. For reference, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that we eat no more than 20g of saturated fat a day for women and 25g for men, and no more than 50g of sugar for women, and 62.5g for men.
Just another shake to fall victim to nutritional insight:
I really wanted that Sonic Cake Batter shake, looked up the calories, saw that is was LITERALLY a big meal in itself and had apple slices and peanut butter instead. I'm sad about it.
— PotatoAim (@GamingTaters) June 25, 2019
Next on CSPI’s hit list: Cracker Barrel’s Country Boy Breakfast:
Had the good ol country boy breakfast from Cracker Barrel today 😛 pic.twitter.com/GsI5f1vdul
— Kuchisabishii Baby (@dallas_russell) September 22, 2017
That’s three eggs served however you like; fried apples; hashbrown casserole; grits; a choice of two pork chops, country ham, or sirloin steak; and sides of gravy, biscuits, butter, and preserves.
No pancakes?
Hi I’d like the Cracker Barrel’s country boy breakfast and a side of pecan pancakes please pic.twitter.com/rf7b23Lsid
— brooks, m (@brooksybreezy) July 30, 2019
CSPI say that this jeans-stretcher contains 25g of saturated fat and and 4,730mg of sodium. That’s nearly twice the recommended daily limit of salt, which the FDA sets at 2,400mg.
When I’m halfway through the Country Boy Breakfast at Cracker Barrel... https://t.co/HGR52wWBw3
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) July 25, 2019
Another CSPI target, Chili’s Boss Burger, is designed to shock:
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEpdTZtUJZY"]And people are accepting the challenge:
Waiter at Chili’s challenged me to eat the “ Boss Burger “ pic.twitter.com/3i3bykW9Fa
— ©arsen (@mediocrecloutt) March 17, 2018
But CSPI are not impressed, pointing out that it contains 47g of saturated fat and 3,900mg of sodium.
Treated my son to lunch at Chili’s 🌶’s. I ordered the BabyBackRibs and he ordered “The Boss” 🍔. Good thing he’s young. If I had eaten that burger then I would have had a heart attack “like a boss” before leaving the restaurant. ☠️#Chilis #BabyBackRibs pic.twitter.com/obBV7Uq9O5
— J.Wine (@jwine2099) July 13, 2019
Another food selling off the back of being bigger? Jimmy John’s 16 inch subs:
Jimmy johns now sells 16 inch subs!!! Come to papa!!!
— Josh Fisher (@fishinitup3) May 24, 2018
The version on the CSPI radar is the Giant Gargantuan.
It contains five types of meat — salami, capicola, turkey, roast beef, and ham — plus provolone cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and dressing. If that’s got your mouth watering, CSPI is tutting at you: they want you to remember that this contains 29g of saturated fat and 7,720mg of sodium.
My local Jimmy Johns every week when I order the giant gargantuan and eat it in one sitting pic.twitter.com/3W7CcRhKSZ
— Joonbug (@JoonTheBrat) December 28, 2018
OK, you get the point. The CSPI really wants us to keep in mind that it’s in restaurants’ best interests to serve us giant portions of food to make us feel like we’re being treated like royalty, when it might not be in our best health interest to eat that much. However, living strictly by numbers can also lead to obsession over food, and even eating disorders. Keep your favorite treat foods as treats, so that when you do indulge, you can just enjoy them. And don’t invite the CSPI out for dinner.
