American fast food culture is having a great moment and is offering more and more elaborate delicacies. Gone are the days of burgers and fries mixed meals. Even the shakes feel a bit one-note, as we’re getting a wide range of nifty new menu items.
The low? While there has been a notable move toward new health-focused offerings, not all of the latest fast food launches they are created equal. Many, in fact, are still produced with an apparent total disregard for nutrition. We’re all for indulging in the occasional treat, so that doesn’t mean you should avoid tempting new menu items altogether. But before we get to that self service windowArm yourself with facts about what you’re about to order.
To help sort through the incredible abundance of options in today’s fast-food market, we consulted dietitian Amy Goodson. These are the new fast foods that she has highlighted as the least healthy.
by burrito: 520 calories, 27 g fat (7 g saturated), 1140 mg sodium
If you’ve ever made a night Taco Bell run (and regretted it in the morning), you might not be surprised to see that one of the brand’s new items made the top five most unhealthy list. This singular burrito is, in many ways, amazing. Seasoned Mexican spiced nacho fries, steak, tomatoes, low-fat sour cream, cheddar cheese, creamy chipotle sauce, and nacho cheese sauce are all wrapped inside a flour tortilla.
But it’s also incredibly unhealthy. Goodson calls it “one to stand out,” noting that not only do you get an impressive list of ingredients, but you also consume 27 grams of fat and nearly half a day sodium intake. “About half the calories in this burrito come from fat,” he adds.
A better option at Taco Bell is the plain bean burrito, which may be noticeably less fun but also contains a third of the fat.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
per cookie: 610 calories, 45 g fat (17 g saturated), 1,370 mg sodium
Goodson summed it up very neatly: “Cookies are a great way to bump up the calories in a breakfast sandwich!”
Wendy’s it recently added several cookie sandwiches to its breakfast menu. This particular one piles grilled sausages and melted American cheese on top of a buttermilk biscuit, and contains more than half of the allotted amount of salt a person should consume in a day, and you get it all at breakfast. Plus, as Goodson also pointed out, 45 grams of fat is also a pretty big amount to start your day.
The chain’s classic bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, which contains an egg, Applewood-smoked bacon and cheese and comes on a warm muffin, is a much less unhealthy bet.
By order: 900 calories, 52 g fat, 21 g saturated fat, 1570 mg sodium
We love the constant innovation in Shake Shack Menu. The slinger burger always changes the script for patrons, offering new lineups and flavor profiles that keep things exciting. But one of their latest releases, Buffalo Spiced Cheese Fries, is seriously unhealthy.
“While potatoes provide nutrients like potassium and fiber, when you turn them into fries topped with Buffalo cheese sauce and serve them with more sauce (ranch in this case), you create a side dish with too much sodium and fat, says Goodson.
Instead of these indulgent fries, opt for regular fries with ketchup and save nearly half the calories, fat, and sodium.
per hamburger: 1,020 calories, 67 g fat (27 g saturated), 2,500 mg sodium
Dairy Queen is really proud of her new burger launch, the most substantial menu update they’ve had in years. The Loaded A.1. Triple Stack Burger, in particular, is quite the creation: slathering three burgers with steak sauce and creamy peppercorn sauce, then stacked on top of thick-cut Applewood-smoked bacon, melted Sharp American cheese and onion rings.
As Goodson points out, this burger alone has more sodium than is recommended for one person to consume in a day, plus more than 1,000 calories. Instead of indulging in this extreme option, he suggests getting a regular cheeseburger or grilled chicken sandwich.
slidetitle num=”1″]Potbelly Big Cubano on White Bread[/slidetitle]
per sandwich: 1,200 calories, 58 g fat (18 g saturated), 3,070 mg sodium
The #1 unhealthiest new fast food item is this Big Cubano on White Bread, a belly original. This indulgent sandwich comes with pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles. According to Goodson, meats and cheese increase the number of calories and fat content. He also checked the sodium count, which is so exaggerated it’s a bit absurd.
Instead, he recommends opting for the original turkey breast and Swiss sandwich on multigrain bread and loading it up with all your favorite veggies.
