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America's Worst Lunches( and what you should eat instead)
Quiznos
Large Prime Rib Cheesesteak Sub
1,490 calories
92 g fat (22.5 g saturated, 2 g trans)
2,620 mg sodium
Fat equivalent: Like eating four Dunkin Donuts cheese danishes!
It's hard enough to make the argument for one cheese Danish, but four? And we're just talking fat, here—with more than 800 calories of the stuff in just one sandwich. You're also be filling up with more than a day's worth of sodium and saturated fat. While this is one of the worst items you could choose, the rest of the Quizno's menu has hazards, as well. But if your co-workers insist on eating there, order this instead:
Small Turkey Ranch and Swiss Sub
410 calories
17 g fat (2.5 g saturated)
1,230 mg sodium
CHILI'S
Crispy Sweet Chile Glazed Chicken Crispers
1,930 calories
112 g fat (17 g saturated)
4,190 mg sodium
Calorie equivalent: Like eating an entire medium Pizza Hut 12" pepperoni pizza!
If you have the time for a sit-down meal, you have the time to think this through. Chicken Crispers are fun, but account for almost a whole day's worth of calories and almost two days' worth of sodium. Your smarter choice is to eat this instead:
Classic Chicken Fajitas
370 calories
11 g fat (1.5 saturated)
2,000 mg sodium
And another hint for a healthy sit-down lunch: forgo the appetizers. Chili's Texas Cheese Fries with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing made the top of our list when we rounded up the worst appetizers money can buy. Check out the other appetizer land-mines here. You'll be shocked.
ARBY'S
Roast Turkey Ranch and Bacon Sandwich
817 calories
37 g fat (11 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
2,146 mg sodium
Calorie equivalent: Like eating 23 Thin Mints (one whole sleeve)!
Just because you could prepare it at home doesn't mean it’s good for you when you order it away from home—the Roast Turkey Ranch and Bacon Sandwich packs nearly half of your daily allowance of calories and almost an entire day’s dose of sodium. Doesn't leave much room for anything else, does it? Eat this instead:
Sourdough Roast Beef Melt
351 calories
14 g fat (4 g saturated)
1,048 mg of sodium
DAIRY QUEEN
Chicken Strip Basket with Country Gravy (6 piece)
1,640 calories
74 g fat (12 g saturated, 1 g trans)
3,690 mg sodium
Sodium equivalent: Like eating 11 large orders of McDonald's French fries!
Talk about a value meal: One Chicken Strip Basket gives you almost two days' payload of sodium! If thinking about it doesn't elevate your blood pressure, eating it might. Don't become a statistic.
Eat this instead:
Crispy Chicken Sandwich
560 calories
28 g fat (3.5 g saturated)
980 mg sodium
PANERA
Italian Combo on Ciabatta sandwich
1,050 calories
47 g fat (18 g saturated, 1 g trans)
3,050 mg of sodium
Fat equivalent: Like eating 6 slices of Papa John's cheese pizza!
You were on the right track in choosing Panera, but don't be sidelined by the allure of the Italian Combo. Ciabatta bread may sound sophisticated, but you won't look so refined when you're lugging that spare Pirelli around your midsection.
Eat this instead:
Smoked Turkey Breast on Sourdough sandwich
470 calories
17 g fat (2.5 g saturated)
1,680 mg sodium
CHIPOTLE
13” tortilla with steak, black beans, rice, cheese, sour cream and lettuce
955 calories
38 g fat (18 g saturated)
1,600 mg sodium
Calorie equivalent: Like eating 37 Hershey’s Kisses!
The good news about this tortilla is that it contains 56 grams of protein, but that's hardly worth the outrageous calorie and carbohydrate load—with 94 grams of carbs, you've already covered a third of your recommended daily intake, plus you're taking in nearly a day's worth of sodium and saturated fat. Downsize to drop pounds.
Eat this instead:
Three hard tacos with steak, pinto beans, sour cream and lettuce
615 calories
24 g fat (11 g saturated)
710 mg sodium
Another hint: When it comes to Chipotle chips, just say "no." They add an outrageous 570 calories and 73 extra grams of carbs.)
HARDEE'S
2/3-lb Monster Thickburger
1,420 calories
108 g fat (43 g saturated)
2,770 mg sodium
Saturated fat equivalent: Like eating 43 strips of Oscar Mayer bacon
It's called Monster for a reason. It's a monster load of saturated fat (more than two days' worth). The good news is that it has a friendlier, healthier cousin in the 1/3-lb Low-Carb Thickburger, with 1,000 fewer calories and a third the amount of fat. Even better, the Low-Carb Thickburger is true to its name—it only has 5 grams of quick-burning carbohydrates, compared to 46 grams in the Monster.
Eat this instead:
1/3-lb Low-Carb Thickburger
420 calories
32 g fat (12 g saturated)
1,010 mg sodium
BURGER KING
Triple Whopper Sandwich with cheese and mayo
1,250 calories
84 g fat (32 g saturated, 2.5 g trans)
1,600 mg sodium
Fat equivalent: Like eating 10 slices of Papa John's cheese pizza!
You should know by now not to order a triple anything. In this case you're getting egregious calorie, fat, and sodium overloads. It's not bad, though, compared to the shockers on our list of the trans-fattiest foods in America. Choose a regular cheeseburger instead and slash 920 calories, 68 g of fat, and save yourself from the judgmental stares of your co-workers, who are three times as likely to be grossed out!
Eat this instead:
Cheeseburger
330 calories
16 g fat (7 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
780 mg sodium
And once you've navigated lunch's landmines, don't blow your day with a bad dinner. Check out these 15 fast and easy ways to get more from your microwave dinner.
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