5 Ridiculously Bad Restaurant Soups

Compared to fried chicken wings and greasy French fries, starting your meal off with a bowl of soup might seem like a healthy solution. Unfortunately, many soups on the menus of popular restaurant chains contain as many (or more!) calories and fat as the entrées themselves. That means you could be weighing yourself down with 700 calories and way too many grams of fat before you've even dug your fork into your dinner. We found the five of the worst soups you could choose, and swapped them for satisfying, waistline-friendly substitutes you'll love. Soup's on!

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1. TGIFriday's New England Clam Chowder
Whenever you read "chowder" on a menu, it should signal you to do one thing: stay far, far away! This cream-based seafood soup may seem like a delicious way to start a meal, but a bowl of it will cost you 500 calories and 18g of fat.

Try Instead: Tortellini Corn Chowder
Our lightened-up veggie version will provide the comfort and warmth of a traditional chowder, minus the fat and calories. This soup is 194 calories per serving, packed with tons of veggies, and includes crispy turkey bacon. A healthy soup that includes bacon? Pass us a bowl, please!

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2. Applebee's Baked Potato Soup
Applebee's menu boasts a number of healthier restaurant choices, especially from their Weight Watchers section, but this baked potato soup is not one of those weight-conscious options. This 470-calorie creamy soup, loaded with cheese and bacon on top, is a fat bomb that packs in 34 grams per serving!

Try Instead: Hungarian Paprika Potato Soup
Our hearty vegetarian soup gets a kick from smoky yet sweet Hungarian paprika. The potatoes in this slow-cooker recipe provide a heart-healthy dose of potassium, and heavy cream is replaced with low-fat milk. Enjoy this filling soup for just 272 calories and 4g of fat per serving.

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3. Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a Sourdough Bread Bowl
Since Panera is known for their breads, a steamy bowl of soup in a thick Sourdough Bread Bowl probably sounds like a delicious lunch or dinner on a cold winter's day. But we urge you to resist the extra carbs: A "You Pick Two®" serving of Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a Sourdough Bread Bowl is 790 calories and 14.5g of fat! That's enough calories to equal two sensible-sized meals.

Try Instead: Yellow Split Pea Cauliflower Soup
If you order broccoli and cheddar soup for its attractive combination of comforting cream and conscience-clearing vegetable components, you'll love this healthier version of pea soup. Blending the peas with chopped cauliflower and fat-free yogurt (among other delicious ingredients) results in a texture that's creamy, filling, and only 230 calories.

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4. Outback Steakhouse's Walkabout Soup® Too Right French Onion Soup
This sweet onion soup is a high-cal standby on many menus across the country. But look out, mate, because Outback's Aussie version of the French onion soup, topped with a sinful combination of melted provolone and Gruyere, clocks in at 465 calories and 28g of fat per crock.

Try Instead: French Onion Soup
Our healthier version of this indulgent soup uses reduced-fat cheese, reduced-sodium broth, French bread, and flavors like fresh thyme and bay leaves. Enjoy this tasty recipe from the 400 Calorie Fix diet for 320 calories and 8g of fat.

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5. Chili's Chicken Enchilada Soup
If you're craving cheesy Mexican enchiladas, you may think ordering the Chicken Enchilada Soup version from Chili's is a sensible way to satisfy your cravings. But put down the spoon-this starter dish is a fat-laden meal in itself. This hearty chicken soup is topped with cheese, tortilla strips, and Pico de Gallo, and clocks in at 400 calories and 25g of fat in every bowl.

Try Instead: Southwest Shrimp Stew
Next time you need a Tex-Mex fix, go for this satisfying shrimp stew. The cumin and ground red pepper will give your taste buds the flavors they're craving, while the shrimp gives you a heart-healthy serving of vitamin B12. The best part: it's only 140 calories and 3.5g of fat per serving.

TELL US: What's your favorite type of soup?

--By Nina Elias, Prevention

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