Nutritional Cheesecake Factory's Eggs Benedict

Nutritional Facts on Cheesecake Factory's Eggs Benedict — Photo Credit Ostrich egg and hen's egg lying on light background image by cosma from Fotolia.com

Traditional eggs Benedict is a common breakfast or brunch menu item that consists of a poached egg on an English muffin with a slice of Canadian bacon and hollandaise sauce. This is one of the popular breakfast items offered at Cheesecake Factory, but it is not one of your healthiest choices. While eggs by themselves are a nutrient-dense food, the addition of other ingredients drives up the fat and sodium content to unhealthy levels. Learn more about Cheesecake Factory's version before dining there in the future, and you may be motivated to make a healthier choice.

Calories

One of your main considerations when choosing a restaurant menu item should be the calorie count. Many restaurant portions are large, which can cause you to consume more calories than a healthy meal should contain. Taking in too many calories can also lead to unhealthy weight gain if you are not burning them off throughout the day. There are two choices of eggs Benedict at Cheesecake Factory. The traditional version with Canadian bacon and hollandaise sauce weighs in at 1,290 calories. The version with bacon, spinach and tomatoes contains 1,420 calories. For the average adult, these counts are more than half of what you should consume for the entire day.

Saturated Fat

In addition to a large number of calories, both eggs Benedict dishes contain a great deal of saturated fat as well. Eggs contain a small amount of saturated fat, but the hollandaise sauce, which is made from egg yolks and butter, is high in this unhealthy type of fat. According to MayoClinic.com, eating a diet that includes a large amount of saturated fat can increase your risk of both heart disease and type 2 diabetes. They also recommend that you limit your saturated fat intake to 10 percent or less of your total caloric intake per day, but the eggs Benedict goes over this limit significantly. The traditional version contains 58 g of saturated fat and the bacon, spinach and tomato version has 64 g.

Sodium

Another consideration when dining at the Cheesecake Factory is the high sodium content of many of its menu items, including both versions of the eggs Benedict. Eating too much sodium on a regular basis can cause high blood pressure, which, over time, can lead to serious complications including heart disease and stroke. MayoClinic.com notes that the upper limit for daily sodium intake should be 2,300 mg. The traditional eggs Benedict contains 1,830 mg and the bacon, spinach and tomato version has 1,730 mg.

Other Nutrients

Eggs Benedict does have some nutritional value in terms of vitamins and minerals. The egg supplies a healthy dose of protein, with a little over 6 g. Eggs also supply a healthy amount of vitamin A and a small amount of iron. The Canadian bacon on the traditional version supplies a bit more protein as well. The bacon, tomato and spinach version also supplies a small amount of vitamin C and fiber from the vegetables.