Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times

Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times

Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times

Most Healthy and Least Healthy Restaurants in America

Recently, “Eat This, Not That! 2012” came out with a new report card for many of the popular restaurant chains in America. The author of Eat This, Not That!, David Zinczenko, posted an article on Yahoo Health titled 10 Best and Worst Restaurants in America on September 13. Each of these restaurants is thoroughly examined and rated in his book.

At the very top of the list is Subway, the very first chain restaurant to ever receive an A on the Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Report Card.

“Subway cut sodium by 15 percent in its regular sandwiches and 28 percent in its Fresh Fit sandwiches.” Zinczenko said in his article, deeming it “America’s healthiest restaurant chain.”

Red Lobster and Chick-fil-A follow shortly behind Subway. Zinczenko calls Red Lobster “a nutritional superstar compared to the other sit-down restaurant chains.”

However, he gives the chain an A- due to the questionably high sodium content of its food, including the Pecan-Crusted Jumbo Shrimp with its 3780 mg of sodium.

Chick-fil-A received the same grade as Red Lobster.

“…no sandwich [from Chick-fil-A] has more than 600 calories,” Zinczenko said. “Sure, the chain specializes in fried chicken, but every cut is cooked in 100 percent peanut oil, which contains twice as many monounsaturated fats as typical vegetable oil.”

Zinczenko’s article also mentions several of the worst restaurants in America.

The unhealthiest restaurant in America, receiving an “F” in the Restaurant Report Card, is The Cheesecake Factory.

“What we saw [at The Cheesecake Factory]: Dozens of items with about 2,000 calories per dish,” Zinczenko said.

TGI Friday’s also received an “F.” The restaurant chain is praised for its optional smaller portions menu, but some of the choices are high in calories nonetheless. On the regular menu, the Jack Daniel’s Chicken Sandwich with Fries is 1,590 calories.

Friendly’s scored a little better than TGI Friday’s, receiving a D on the Restaurant Report Card.

Each year, Eat This, Not That! publishes an updated list of the most healthy and least healthy restaurants in America.

Junior Christopher Li said the information doesn’t affect him much.

“Usually I just eat whatever I want,” Li said. “If it tastes good, I wouldn’t be willing to give it up.”

Others say that this news will affect their choices and help them make better decisions when they eat out at restaurants.

“[Knowing this] will help me when I go out to eat,” junior Alisa Liu said. “I can make better choices because I’m more aware of which places are healthier and which aren’t.”

Eat This, Not That’s annual Restaurant Report Card is published in an effort to help Americans make healthier choices. In his article, Zinczenko said that the restaurant industry is making changes towards healthier menu options.

“I’ve criticized [the industry] when criticism was appropriate and praised when the improvements were made,” Zinczenko said. “And this year, I’m happy to report, the improvements were many.”

Leave a Comment
Donate to Central Times
$50
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All Central Times Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *