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Steakhouses across the US are flocked every week by people in the mood to celebrate.
But nutritionists have raised the alarm about shocking levels of calories, fat and salt packed into some of the nations best-loved meals.
An analysis of the nutritional content of dozens of meals served at your favorite steakhouses has revealed that some popular dishes contain as much salt as six packs of McDonald’s fries and more than your entire daily calorie allowance.
Experts say this could spell trouble for those with heart disease and diabetes, as well as those who need to lose weight for health reasons.
“With lots of butter, salt, and toppings like bacon bits or cheese, your calorie, sodium, and fat numbers can skyrocket before your entree even arrives,” warned Lauren Manaker, a South Carolina-based dietitian, in a report for Nutrition Homepage, Eat this not thatwho performed the analysis.
Here are the eight worst offenders:
Texas Roadhouse: Ribeye 12oz & Ribs
This entrée weighs in at 1150 calories, 111g fat and 2040mg sodium.
A traditional hamburger with a double patty, by comparison, has about 350 calories, according to the USDA. That’s a little more than a third of the calories of the Roadhouse Ribeye.
‘2/3 of the calories come exclusively from fat. Some studies have shown that excessive dietary fat, especially saturated fat, in the diet has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease,’ wrote Mackenzie Burgess, a registered nurse dietitian in the report.
Outback Steakhouse: Bloomin’ Onions
This appetizer contains a whopping 1620 calories – just 380 of a woman’s total recommended daily intake – 126g of fat and 4140mg of sodium.
By comparison, a large portion of McDonald’s fries contains approximately 400 milligrams of salt. So you would need to eat about 10 packets of McDonalds fries to reach the amount of salt found in this dish.
Too much salt risks raising blood pressure to harmful levels, which can increase the risk of heart disease.
Michelle Rauch, a registered nurse dietitian who specializes in clinical nutrition, noted that the calorie count is particularly concerning since it’s just an appetizer. “That’s 1,620 calories alone before you even get to your main course,” she said.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse: Cowboy Ribeye
Ruth Chris’s Cowboy Ribeye will run you 1690 calories, 147 grams of fat and 1180 mg of sodium. That would be like eating three Big Macs, each of which contains about 590 calories.
It also weighs 12 ounces, which is four times the daily recommended intake of red meat, according to Eat This, Not That.
An excess of red meat in the diet has been linked to certain cancers and an increased risk of heart disease.
Sizzler: BBQ Ribs (6 legs)
Sizzlers BBQ Ribs contain 1870 calories, 145 g fat and 20,050 mg sodium.
That makes them over eight times your daily recommended sodium levels, according to the FDA.
In addition, the amount of saturated fat – the type most dangerous to heart health – is almost four times the daily limit recommended by the American Heart Association.
The Capital Grille: Signature Cheeseburger
In one Capital Grille Signature Cheeseburger, there are 940 calories, 58 g of fat and 1750 mg of sodium.
This makes this steakhouse cheeseburger just over 75% of the daily recommended amount of sodium as recommended by The American Heart Association (2,300 milligrams) for most Americans, and 16 percent more than the recommended amount for those who have such medical conditions as elevated blood pressure, diabetes and heart or kidney disease,’ Rauch said.
Claim Jumper: Chicken pot pie
Claim Jumper’s Chicken Pot Pie may seem like a lighter option than red meat, but according to registered dietitian nurse Alyssa Simpson, it’s not.
‘Typically made with a buttery pastry crust and a creamy filling rich in butter and heavy cream, (this dish) packs a whopping 2,120 calories and contains more than 140 grams of fat.’
One serving contains more than a woman’s total daily calorie intake – and is the energy equivalent of four Chik-fil-A fried chicken sandwiches, each containing 466 calories.
Logan’s Roadhouse: Beer battered onion rings
With 1,410 calories, 124g of fat and 4,177mg of sodium, these onion rings pack more than half of your daily calorie intake before you’ve even reached entrees.
They have 20g of saturated fat, which is more than the 13g a day recommended by the American Heart Association and the equivalent of four Krispy Kreme donuts.
LongHorn Steakhouse: Texas Brisket Nachos
This limited-location appetizer offers 2,040 calories, 130 g of fat, and 4,070 mg of sodium.
This is another dish that tips the savory scales into unfavorable territory.
As an equivalent, you’d need to eat about seven bags of Lay’s potato chips, each containing 607 mg of sodium, to get the same amount of salt you get from this dish.