American fast food culture is having a big moment – and offering increasingly sophisticated delicacies. Gone are the simple burger and fries combos. Even milkshakes can feel a bit repetitive as we’re treated to a wide range of new, inventive menu items.
The disadvantage? While there has been a notable movement toward health-focused new offerings, not all recent fast food releases are created equal. In fact, many are still made with an apparent disregard for nutrition overall. We’re all for enjoying the occasional treat, so that doesn’t mean you have to avoid the tantalizing new menu items entirely. But before you head to that drive-through window, arm yourself with facts about what you’re about to order.
To sort through the incredible array of options in the current fast food market, we consulted nutritionist Amy Goodson. Here are the new fast foods she highlighted as the unhealthiest.
Courtesy of Taco Bell
Per burrito: 520 calories, 27g fat (7g saturated fat), 1,140mg sodium
If you’ve ever had a late-night Taco Bell run (and regretted it in the morning), you might not be surprised to see that one of the brand’s new items made the top 5 list of unhealthiest. This unique burrito is amazing in so many ways. It rolls up nacho fries seasoned with Mexican spices, steak, tomatoes, reduced-fat sour cream, cheddar cheese, creamy chipotle sauce, and nacho cheese sauce, all in a flour tortilla.
But it’s also surprisingly unhealthy. Goodson calls it “one to write home about,” noting that not only do you get an impressive list of ingredients, but you also burn 27 grams of fat and pretty much half a day’s sodium intake. “Almost half the calories in this burrito come from fat,” she adds.
A better option at Taco Bell is the plain bean burrito, which may be remarkably less fun but also has a third of the fat.
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Courtesy of Wendy’s
Per cookie: 610 calories, 45g fat (17g saturated fat), 1,370mg sodium
Goodson summed this up pretty bluntly: “Cookies are a great way to add calories to a breakfast sandwich!”6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Wendy’s recently added several bisque sandwiches to its breakfast menu. This particular one stacks grilled sausage and melted American cheese on top of a buttermilk biscuit and contains more than half the allotted amount of salt a person should eat in a day — and you get it all at breakfast. Also, as Goodson also pointed out, 45 grams of fat is a pretty big amount to start the day with.
The chain’s classic Bacon Egg & Cheese Sandwich, which includes an egg, Applewood smoked bacon, and cheese and is served on a warm muffin, is a much less unhealthy bet.
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Per order: 900 calories, 52g fat, 21g saturated fat, 1,570mg sodium
We love the constant innovation on the Shake Shack menu. The burger slinger always flips the script for customers, offering new lineups and flavor profiles that keep things exciting. But one of their latest releases – the Buffalo Spiced Cheese Fries – is highly unhealthy.
“While potatoes provide nutrients like potassium and fiber, if you make them with buffalo cheese sauce fries and serve them with a side of more sauce (ranch, in this case), you’re creating a side dish with way too much sodium and fat. says Goodson.
Instead of those delicious spuds, opt for regular fries with ketchup and save almost half the calories, fat and sodium.
Courtesy of Dairy Queen
Per burger: 1,020 calories, 67g fat (27g saturated fat), 2,500mg sodium
Dairy Queen is royally proud of their new burger release, their biggest menu update in years. The loaded A.1. The Triple Stack Burger, in particular, is quite the creation: It coats three patties in steak sauce and creamy peppercorn sauce, then stacks thickly sliced applewood-smoked bacon, melted spicy American cheese, and onion rings.
As Goodson points out, this burger alone contains more sodium than a person should eat in a day, plus over 1,000 calories. Rather than indulge in this extreme option, she suggests eating either a regular cheeseburger or a grilled chicken sandwich.
slidetitle num=”1″]Potbelly’s Big Cubano on white bread[/slidetitle]
Potbelly Sandwich Shop / Facebook
Per sandwich: 1,200 calories, 58g fat (18g saturated fat), 3,070mg sodium
The #1 unhealthiest new fast food item is this Big Cubano on White Bread, a Potbelly Original. This delicious sandwich is served with pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles. According to Goodson, meat and cheese increase calorie count and fat content. She also points out the sodium number, which is so exaggerated it’s a bit absurd.
Instead, she recommends opting for the Original Turkey Breast and Swiss Sandwich on multigrain bread instead and loading it up with all your favorite veggies.