Healthy Living

Monday, December 7, 2009

Top ten worst foods of 2009

From an astonishing amount of calories to several days' worth of fat in one meal to over the top levels of sodium, 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. Also, see: Hidden sodium in foods you wouldn't think to check.

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. You may be better off with these 5 frozen treats under 100 calories.

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 (but these are).

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. Also, see this review of microwave popcorns from Consumer Reports.

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! Here's another burrito that will shock you.

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. And watch out before you have this frozen concoction.

Any surprises? And tell me… have you had any of these

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From the Community…

Comments 11-20 of 840
  • Angela's Avatar
    Posted by Angela Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:01am PST

    Just to add to biscuiteater 20's comment:

    We use the No salt seasoning from Costco. It has garlic, a zillion herbs, pepper and anything else you can think of...just no salt. We use it in everything from soup to fried chicken. I am a salt-oholic but I love this seasoning. The only salt we use is in a recipe that calls for it. With everything being so salty now, I love being in charge of my salt intake as much as possible. We buy unsalted everything from butter to popcorn.

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  • Veronica's Avatar
    Posted by Veronica Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:13am PST

    I have only had the soup. The best way to eat healthy is to cook it yourself and watch your portions.

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  • CharleneW's Avatar
    Posted by CharleneW Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:37am PST

    My husband is a huge fan of Marie Callendar's pot pies. The sodium alone in that pot pie is a killer, but he is addicted to that pot pie even if I make fresher and healthier pot pies. Suprised by Progresso soups, but I am not a big fan of processed foods overall, anyway.

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  • DeAnn's Avatar
    Posted by DeAnn Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:47am PST

    Thanks for adding alternatives to the list. That really helps. It means you CAN have that cafe mocha as a treat (not every day) and still not break the diet bank. I can't believe some of these places are allowed to make foods with almost a day's worth of calories! It's just insane!

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  • Kimber's Avatar
    Posted by Kimber Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:52am PST

    All starbucks drinks are made with 2% milk to start with. You have to request Whole milk. It's the whipped cream that gets you...it's the real deal. Leave off the whip and save 200 cal.

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  • Candice's Avatar
    Posted by Candice Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:06am PST

    Starbucks uses 2% as a standard for their milk now. They only do whole milk upon request. Also, the frappacunnios are a whole lot worse than the Mochas.

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  • springtime's Avatar
    Posted by springtime Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:11am PST

    You can buy a small island for what you pay at Starbucks. Expensive and calories are loaded. And canned soups are nothing but salt water. There are many salt free seasonings available now. McCormick Salt Free Garlic and Herbs is good. Fresh herbs are easy to grow in a container pot and really flavor foods nicely. All you need is a sunny spot.

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  • Spam I Am's Avatar
    Posted by Spam I Am Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:15am PST

    Well, duh.

    Of course these items are loaded with fat/caories/salt. They couldn't sell 'em if they didn't.

    This post is simply more free publicity for the nags at the CSPI.

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  • Jess's Avatar
    Posted by Jess Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:24am PST

    This doesn't surprise anyone, does it? I mean, we all know that ice cream, salt, cheesecake and pot pies are not the best things in the world to eat, right?

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  • Cranberry Lips's Avatar
    Posted by Cranberry Lips Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:55am PST

    I love Dove ice cream and Coldstone's founders favorite! I get the "like it" and I still can't eat it in one sitting, but it's soooo good! :)

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