Attention restaurants: You don’t want to win an Xtreme Eating Award.
Six casual-dining chains have been cited by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit consumer group in Washington, as serving entrees that shatter the barrier of caloric decency.
Nine dishes, including three from The Cheesecake Factory, were cited as having dishes that obliterated the recommended daily allowance of sodium, saturated fats, calories or all of the above.
“I remembered when I thought fettuccine Alfredo was a heart attack on a plate, and these foods go way beyond that,” said Jayne Hurley, a nutritionist who conducted the study. “It doesn’t seem to have any end of food getting bigger and badder.”
And now, take a bow, award winners.
The Cheesecake Factory’s Philly Style Flat Iron Steak: 2,320 calories, 47 grams saturated fat, 5,340 milligrams sodium
Olive Garden’s Tour of Italy: 1,450 calories, 33 grams saturated fat, 3,830 milligrams sodium
Chili’s Big Mouth Bites: 1,580 calories, 28 grams saturated fat, 2,930 milligrams sodium
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Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger (with fries): 1,820 calories, 46 grams saturated fat, 4,410 milligrams sodium
Chili’s Baby Back Ribs (half rack): 490 calories, 12 grams saturated fat, 2,050 milligrams sodium
The Cheesecake Factory’s Fried Macaroni and Cheese: 1,570 calories, 69 grams saturated fat, 1,860 milligrams sodium
Uno Chicago Grill’s Mega-Sized Deep Dish Sundae: 2,800 calories, 72 grams saturated fat
Red Lobster’s Ultimate Fondue: 1,490 calories, 40 grams saturated fat, 3,580 milligrams sodium (plus 150 calories for each biscuit)
The Cheesecake Factory’s Chicken and Biscuits: approximately 2,500 calories