According to Alive.com, the fast-food industry commands more than $100 billion a year. Fast food fills a need in society; it's cheap, it's convenient and it's available everywhere. While a few selections here and there might be healthy, most fast food is high in calories and fat. Some options are so high in calories and fat that you could be consuming a day's worth in a single meal.
Sandwiches
Some of the unhealthiest fast foods are sandwiches. Despite its seemingly innocent name, Quiznos' tuna melt sandwich packs 1,760 calories, 133 g fat, of which 25 g are saturated. Just slightly behind is Wendy's Triple Baconator Value Meal, which includes nine strips of bacon, cheese, three beef patties and a side of fries. The sandwich alone is 1,350 calories, but eat the fries and drink the Coke that comes with it and the count goes up to 1,850. The sandwich alone contains 90 g fat and 2,780 mg sodium, which is over the daily recommended amount of 2,500 mg per day. Burger King's Triple Whopper with Cheese has 1,250 calories and 84 g fat.
Shakes
Shakes might sound like a healthy choice, but some carry a heavy load when it comes to calories and sugars. McDonald's large Triple Thick Chocolate Shake contains 1,160 calories, 27 g fat and 168 g sugar. According to The Center for Science in the Public Interest, you should keep your daily sugar consumption to 40 g or less. Baskin-Robbins ice cream soda in large size is not too far behind, with 960 calories, 40 g fat and 136 g sugar.
Side Orders
TGI Friday's Loaded Potato Skins Appetizer might look small, but it contains 1,430 calories, most than the average double cheeseburger. Denny's Cheesy Three-Pack Appetizer is even worse, at 1,940 calories and 125 g fat. It also contains 3,840 mg sodium. Applebee's has a reputation for slightly healthier alternatives, but their spinach-and-artichoke dip appetizer doesn't do that justice, as it contains 1,590 calories.
Other Foods
It's not just meat and fried food that you should avoid. Other foods served at fast-food restaurants can be just as unhealthy. For example, Domino's Chicken Carbonara Breadbowl Pasta contains 1,480 calories and 56 g fat. KFC Half Spicy Crispy Chicken Meal is even higher at 1,660 calories, 104 g fat and 5,050mg sodium. The dish includes half a deep-fried chicken, plus macaroni and cheese, and potatoes.
References
- Women's Health: The Worst Shakes in America
- Alive: The Dangers of Fast Food
- Fitness: The 30 Worst Fast-Food Restaurant Choices
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: America, Drowning in Sugar
- Speed Endurance: The Worst Fast Food Shake in America
- Men's Health: 10 Worst Fast Food Meals in the Nation
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