Now Chick-Fil-A is an Atlanta-based fast-food chain that kicks off our list of the worst fast food. We’re sure there are plenty of folks who disagree and don’t think it should be on our list BUT hear us out! Also, come on, it’s not in the top 10, so really, it isn’t all THAT bad. Anyway, Chick-fil-A is an example that it’s important to know the actual nutritional information before you go ahead and order.
It’s this high up on our list because their Grilled Chicken Sandwich is actually healthier than the majority of fast food meals (unless we get talking about the sodium content, but that’s for another article). Moral of the story: keep your eyes peeled! Consumer Score: 47%
Pei Wei Asian Diner
With a tagline of “Asian Done a Better Way,” we are slightly skeptical – but a quick look at the menu does indeed suggest that Pei Wei Asian Diner is trying a LOT harder than their competitors. With offerings of Cauliflower Rice and fresh poke bowls, we’re blown away at the healthy menu choices! Awesome! However, as healthy as they may be, it is hard to resist the deep-fried, stir-fried, and crispy options.
If you’re conscious of your calories, there are certainly a few things to go for here (cauliflower rice is just as good as rice (well, nearly as good) for 10% of the carbs!), but otherwise, Pei Wei is just like any other Asian food joint. Consumer Score: 46%
Culver’s
With menu items like the “ButterBurger” and “Wisconsin Cheese Curds” being customer favorites, you just know that it’s not going to be exactly “healthy” for you. But we’re not here to shame anybody – eating junk is fine, just not all the time, every day! Though while we’re here, we just want to draw your attention to the fact that while browsing their website, it’s not exactly easy to get to the nutritional info!
There’s a reason for this: one pint of their vanilla Frozen Custard contains enough calories for almost half of your daily caloric intake! (990 calories for anyone wondering – packing 45g of fat and 100g of carbohydrates!) Consumer Score: 45%
Chipotle Mexican Grill
A generous splash of creamy guac, some corn for color, and maybe some rice and beans mixed in for bulk – your Chipotle burrito bowl is looking scrumptiously...healthy? We regret to inform you that in fact, no, your lunch is not very healthy. Whilst there are certain menu options that are on the healthy side of the spectrum, a data crunch by the New York Times revealed that the majority of people’s orders at the Mexican grill are actually not too healthy!
A typical order contains in excess of 1000 calories, which is again half the total number of calories for a DAY. Not to mention the sodium – sure, sodium isn’t totally bad for you, but with meals containing 2400mg a pop, coupled with what’s equivalent to 75% of your saturated fat intake, we’re rethinking Chipotle and considering staying in for dinner. Consumer Score: 45%
Whataburger
According to a recent national survey of regional burgers by USA Today, it seems that Whataburger emerged victorious against its competitor In-and-Out Burger. We’re pretty serious about our burgers, and so are Texans. Folks from Texas seem to prefer Whataburger, whilst those out West tend to prefer In-and-Out. In any case, the burger joint, whilst it may have won over the people, certainly hasn’t won over health experts and dietitians.
Sure, you can get a Whataburger Jr. with Bacon and Cheese for 400 calories, but remember, that’s for a child. And a child’s daily caloric intake is a heck of a lot less than an adult’s! So you do the math. Consumer Score: 44%