These Are the Best and Worst Chain-Restaurant Foods For Your Waistline

Do you want the convenience of eating at your favorite chain-restaurant without consuming a ton of calories? Of course you do – it’s swimsuit season after all!

So, what should you order when you’re watching your waistline? Eat This, Not That! magazine rated (and graded) America’s top chain restaurants putting each under a “nutritional microscope” and came up with the healthiest and unhealthiest option on the menu.

According to the magazine, 43% of a person’s yearly calorie intake comes from eating outside of the home (restaurants, catering companies etc.), so it’s best to plan ahead.

Subway came out with an A grade calling the sandwich company “America’s healthiest chain,” while KFC and McDonald’s marks were more of a surprise, each scoring a B+.  At the lower end of the spectrum, Applebee’s took home a D+ for its “meal-wrecking appetizers, pastas, and fajitas” and the Cheesecake Factory scored an F for entrees with “quadruple-digit calorie counts.”

So how did your favorite restaurants fare?  See the list of 10 top chains below.

1. Applebees: D+

Best: Northern Walleye, 690 calories, 36 g fat (13 g saturated), 1,770 mg sodium

Worst: New England Fish & Chips, 1,970 calories, 136 g fat (24 g saturated), 4,180 mg sodium

2. Burger King: C-

Best: Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe, 290 calories, 14 g fat (6 g saturated), 720 mg sodium

Worst: Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger, 810 calories, 49 g fat (22 g saturated), 1,400 mg sodium.

3. Cheesecake Factory: F

Best: Herb Crusted Filet of Salmon, 700 calories, N/A g fat, 380 mg sodium

Worst: Grilled Chicken and Avocado Club, 1,400 calories, N/A g fat, 2,100 mg sodium.

4. Chipotle: C

Best: Soft Corn Tortilla Tacos with Steak, Cheese, Lettuce, and Fresh Tomato Salsa, 530 calories, 14 g fat (7 g saturated), 750 mg sodium

Worst: Burrito with Steak, Black Beans, White Rice, Cheese, Sour Cream, and Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa, 1,090 calories, 40 g fat (15 g saturated), 2,165 mg sodium.

5. Domino’s: B

Best: Thin Crust with Grilled Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza (2 slices, large pie), 430 calories, 20 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 900 mg sodium

Worst: Hand Tossed Crust Buffalo Chicken American Legends Pizza (2 slices, large pie), 680 calories, 34 g fat (16 g saturated), 1,700 mg sodium

6. KFC: B+

Best: Original Recipe Chicken Breast with Cole Slaw, 490 calories, 24 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 1,310 mg sodium

Worst: Chunky Chicken Pot Pie, 790 calories, 45 g fat (37 g saturated), 1,970 mg sodium

7. McDonald’s: B+

Best: McChicken, 370 calories, 17 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 650 mg sodium

Worst: Premium Grilled Chicken Bacon Clubhouse Sandwich, 610 calories, 26 g fat (9 g saturated), 1,720 mg sodium

8. Pizza Hut: C

Best: Buffalo State of Mind Thin ‘N Crispy Pizza (2 slices, medium pie), 400 calories, 14 g fat (7 g saturated), 1,420 mg sodium

Worst: Buffalo State of Mind Original Stuffed Crust Pizza (2 slices), 660 calories, 24 g fat (12 g saturated), 1,940 mg sodium

9. Subway: A

Best: Steak and Cheese Toasted Sandwich (6″) and Veggie Delite Salad, 525 calories, 11 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 1,105 mg sodium

Worst: Turkey Italiano Melt (6″) and Veggie Delite Salad, 794 calories, 26 g fat (9 g saturated), 1,565 mg sodium

10. Taco Bell: B

Best: Beef Gordita Supreme and Fresco Chicken Soft Taco, 530 calories, 16.5 g fat (6 g saturated), 950 mg sodium

Worst: Fiesta Taco Salad with Beef, 770 calories, 41 g fat (10 g saturated, 1 g trans), 1,590 mg sodium

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RELATED: These Are the 9 Unhealthiest Chain-Restaurant Meals in America

–Michelle Ward Trainor