This is one place you don’t want to see any of your favorite foods. Every year, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) comes up with its list of the Top Ten Worst Foods and I always look forward to it. Once in awhile I find out I’ve enjoyed one of the “worsts” (and stop immediately!). But this year, I’m happy to report I have not indulged in anything on CSPI’s list for 2009.
1. Pepperidge Farm Roasted White Meat Chicken Premium Pot Pie – There are 510 calories and 9 grams of saturated fat in this baby. Oh wait – that’s just for half a pie. The whole thing has 1020 calories and 18 grams of saturated fat.
2. Romano’s Macaroni Grill Spaghetti and Meatballs with Meat Sauce – This dish will set you back a staggering 2,430 calories and nearly three days’ worth of saturated fat (57 grams) plus 5,290 milligrams of sodium – more calories and saturated fat than two Macaroni Grill Tuscan Rib-Eye steak dinners.
3. Progresso Traditional, Vegetable Classics, and Rich & Hearty soups – Half a can averages more than half of a person’s daily quota of salt. Instead, CSPI says try Progresso’s Health Favorites reduced-sodium soups with up to 50 percent less salt.
4. Dove Ice Cream – A half cup has about 300 calories and an average of 11 grams of saturated fat – that’s half-a-day’s worth of the bad stuff.
5. The Cheesecake Factory Chris’ Outrageous Chocolate Cake – It’s layers of chocolate cake, brownie, toasted coconut pecan filling, and chocolate chip coconut cheesecake. CSPI found each five-inch-high slice weighs three-fourths of a pound and has 1,380 calories, 32 teaspoons of sugar, 33 grams of saturated fat and 5 grams of trans fat. Yikes!
6. Smoothie King’s Grape Expectations II – It’s one of Smoothie King’s “Snack Rights” with 550 calories in the 20-ounce size and 1,100 calories in the 40-ouncer. Proof that not all smoothies are good for you.
7. Pop Secret Movie Theater Butter Popcorn Snack Size Bags – Just one snack-size bag has 11 grams of bad fat, 7 of which are trans fats. Instead, CSPI says choose Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop or Smart Balance Smart ’N Healthy – both are made with no partially hydrogenated oils.
8. The Starbucks Venti (20 oz.) Caffè Mocha with whole milk and whipped cream has 450 calories and 13 grams of bad fat – more like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in a cup. But you can lose all the bad fat and all but 170 calories if you order a tall (12 oz.) with nonfat milk and no whipped cream.
9. Chipotle Chicken Burrito – With rice, pinto beans, cheese, chicken, sour cream, and salsa, you get 1,040 calories and 16-1/2 grams of saturated fat – the same as three Subway Steak and Cheese 6-inch Subs. Plus the burrito comes with 2,500 milligrams of sodium! Ordering it without cheese or sour cream cuts the saturated fat to 3-1/2 grams, but you still end up with 810 calories and 2,300 milligrams of sodium. Ay Caramba!
10. Cold Stone Creamery’s Gotta Have It Founder’s Favorite – 12-ounces of ice cream, pecans, brownie pieces, fudge, and caramel adds up to a whopping 1,600 calories and 42 grams of saturated fat. That’s about the same as five single-scoop ice cream cones.
Any surprises? And tell me… have you had any of these?
(gulp!) Well, I haven’t had any of these, but I’m sure my own concoctions like adding sugar and butter to healthier microwave popcorn would make the top ten.. and my mother’s cream puffs..oh, shudder! Lent starts tomorrow with Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, those participating give up something that they really love, as a sacrifice, for forty days, til Easter. This year, I’m saying “Sh…” No ’shopping’ and no ’sugar’. If it doesn’t help me be a better person, maybe it will help me be a thinner one!
Is it bad that reading that list made me hungry?
I am so glad that I have never eaten any of those things. My hubby, however, has eaten the Chipotle Chicken Burrito. He loves burritos.
I like some of those things (waves to Dove) but in moderation.
as far as Ill SAY anyway
Who knew? lol!
Somehow I’ve managed to avoid these. Just lucky, I guess.
Since we moved away from processed foods and/or local foods, I haven’t had anything from that list in 2008. Not to say I haven’t eaten ice cream, though!!!
I probably would have had Chipotle, as I really like their food, but we moved and there isn’t one around.
Mimi – LOL about your own concoctions!
MizFit – I actually can’t believe I haven’t tried the Dove ice cream. I adore the Dove ice cream BARS.
Wow the spaghetti and meatballs just floors me. I though marinara was safe :S lol, thanks for this… I’ve actually had a doctor tell me once that it would be impossible for me to eat my way to my current weight so there HAD to be a metabolic problem. This is proof that someone can easily eat their way and sustain a large body with a diet rich in these sorts of foods.
Lori – I love Chipotle too, but I always order their salads. Hopefully, there aren’t any surprises there!
supersquared – I know – that spaghetti dish is insane!
BTW, thanks for the link – I tried to leave a comment, but couldn’t find the box – is it just me???
Whew! Other than #3 and #4 as once-a-year type major splurges, I think I’m safe from the Worst List.
thanks for the list. I always feel so virtuous when I read one of these.
Well, this is CSIP at their best, providing useful information. Just as long as they’re not trying to ban anything, I like it.
That Cheesecake factory cake sounds beyond descendant. I’d like to try it, at least once
- Dave
oy. Just reading some of those gave me a tummy ache. Then to read the nutrition info? That gave me a headache. …. ok, I’m actually fine, but still!
This is an awesome top ten list FatFighter. I remember a magazine article in Men’s Health that mentioned the awesome blossom as about the worst thing, but these are all really bad too. You can post a top ten list to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and then link back to your site. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.
[...] Fat Fighter TV reveals the list of Top Ten Worst Foods of 2009. Have you eaten any of this? [...]
Reading this post was a little nerve-wracking! I hoped nothing I love to eat was on here…and lucky for me, there isn’t!
My husband on the other hand eats the popcorn and the Chipotle chicken burritos…I don’t think he’ll ever stop!
Katie – Did he see the list?
The only thing from the list that I “might” eat is the popcorn. I know now, however, to look for the Orville kind. I’m always at starbucks but I only get the tall with fat free milk and no whip topping.
I eat a chipotle burrito once a week for lunch, ouch. But I get the black beans so I’m sure it’s healthy
Oh well, I’m very active and need the calories anyway, but the sodium worries me.
Good thing you’re active, Rich! And yes, the sodium is out of control, isn’t it?
I’m doing pretty good by this list! Although Cold Stone (or our local custard stand) has a way of pulling me in (and I’m sure it’s not much better…).
Oh, darn.
Progressive Soups are the only canned soups I like. Should I donate my supply in the pantry?Fortunately, I make a lot of homemade soup.
Though my potato soup is often requested and is not exactly healthy since it uses a stick of butter and 2 cups of whle or 2% milk.
Other than Progressive’s, though, I didn’t eat anything from the list last year.