If you had a choice between a Whopper or a specialty salad, which would you choose? Let's face it, most of us eat salads because we think they are better for us.  Not always so.

When Rodale was researching it's new book for their popular 'Eat This, Not That' restaurant series, I think even they were surprised to find how many unhealthy salads there are out there.  You are much better off eating a fast food burger (without the bacon of course) and here's why.

A typical burger at one of the big chains can be lower than some of the fancy salads you find at the chains.  The Whopper has 670 calories, 40 grams of fat (11 g saturated, 1.5 grams transfat and 1,020 mg of sodium.

Now, here are some salads to be aware of:

>>  At Chipotle Mexican Grill, the chicken salad with black beans, red salsa, cheese, and chipotle honey vinaigrette has 720 calories, 41.0 g fat (11 g saturated) and a whopping 2,015 mg sodium.

>> At Taco Bell, the yummy Fiesta Taco Salad has 770 calories, 42 g fat (10 g saturated, 1 g trans) and 1,420 mg sodium

>> At Penera, the Full Steak & Blue Cheese Chopped Salad has 850 calories
64 g fat (21 g saturated; 1.5 g trans) and 1,590 mg sodium

>> Applebees has a Grilled Shrimp and Spinach Salad (seems healthy but...) has 1,010 calories, 69 g fat (12 g saturated) and 2,650 mg sodium

>> Applebees' Oriental Chicken Salad has 1,340 calories, 98 g fat (15 g saturated; 1.5 g trans), 1,200 mg sodium

>> T.G.I Fridays' Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad is loaded with 1,360 calories

>> At Cheesecake Factory, the Santa Fe Salad has 1,720 calories, 17 g saturated fat
and 2,636 mg sodium

>> I love Fridays, but according to the book, the #1 worse salad in America belongs to T.G.I Fridays for their Santa Fe Chopped Salad which tips the scales at 1,830 calories.  You have this and you'll have to run a good part of the weekend to work this off.

Those burgers are sounding better and better.

 

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